Climate Highlights of the G20 Leaders Summit in Pittsburgh, September 24-25, 2009
G20 leaders designated the G-20 to be the premier forum for International Economic Cooperation
In the short time span of 11 months since the G20 first engaged world leaders of the worlds largest economies in a forum to solve the world economic crisis, the G20 has become the premier forum for International economic cooperation. The G20 representing 85% of the world economies brings a more balanced, diverse range of voices to the table of International cooperation. The G20 concensus moves the less-represented G8 into a secondary role which will mostly be concerned with geo-political issues. G20 Leaders agreed to meet in Canada in June 2010, a meeting that will be tacked onto the G8 meeting planned at the same time. It is expected that Canada will play host to the official passing of the torch of International Economic diplomacy between these two organizations.
Commitment to Copenhagen (sort of)
The leaders reiterated a promise to cooperate with all parties in reaching an agreement in Copenhagen. An agreement must include mitigation, adaptation, technology, and most critically a financing mechanism.
It is clear that this meeting of G20 Leaders missed an opportunity to establish benchmarks for financial commitments to address climate change. The most important consideration is a formula for helping developing countries to cope with global warming impacts and pay for green energy technology. Instead, Finance Ministers were again directed (as they were at the World Economic Forum in Aquila, Italy in June, 2009) to report back at their next meeting with a range of options for climate change financing considerations in the UNFCCC negotiations at Copenhagen.
Canadian PM Hiding behind Obama
Stephen Harper, speaking at a press conference here at the G20 distanced the Canadian government from supporting a fair, ambitious and binding agreement in Copenhagen.
“I would cite what President Obama said to us at our meetings and that is that while Copenhagen is a very important meeting we should not view it as a make or break on climate change. It will be a step, an ongoing step, in an iHarper, said yesterday. Harper attributed the comments by Obama in addition to saying he was not inclined to take up the challenge issued by Gordon Brown to attend the meeting in Copenhagen, in order to add political weight to the UNFCCC negotiations.
The Canadian stance on Climate Change stands in stark contrast to overtures by China and Japan, earlier this week in New York during Climate Week at the United Nations. On Tuesday, Japan’s new prime minister, Yukio Hatoyama, whose nation generates more than 4 percent of the world’s greenhouse gases, pledged his nation would seek a 25 percent cut in greenhouse gas emissions from 1990 levels by 2020.
It is clear some of the G20 Nations are pledging action on Climate Change.
Phase out of Fossil Fuel Subsidies
Energy efficiency plays an important role in promoting energy security and fighting climate change. G20 Leaders agreed to phase out, over the medium term fossil fuel subsidies while providing targeted support for the poorest (energy impoverished) who depend on such subsidies as a matter of survival. Obama was urging leaders to support a five year plan for phasing out the 300 Billion dollars in annual subsidies for fossil fuels, but will have to settle for a yet to be agreed-upon mid-term target.
Many countries, including the U.S., provide tax breaks and direct payments to help produce and use oil, coal, natural gas and other fuels that emit carbon dioxide, a gas that traps heat in the atmosphere. Fossil fuel subsidies encourage wasteful consumption, reduce energy security, restrict investment in clean energy sources and undermine efforts to deal with the threat of climate change.
Leaders called on Energy and Finance Ministers to report strategies and timelines for meeting this critical commitment for the next G20 Meeting.
The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) has found that eliminating fossil fuel subsidies by 2020 would reduce global greenhouse gas emissions in 2050 up to 12 percent. The leaders also call on all nations to adopt policies that will phase out subsidies worldwide.
Increase Clean and Renewable Energy Supplies
Promoting sustainable growth and addressing the threat of climate change leaders agree to increase funding for increasing clean and renewable energy supplies and promoting conservation and energy efficiency. Diversification of fuel sources will also enhance energy security.
Leaders agree to stimulate investments in clean energy, renewables, and energy efficiency and offering assistance in this area for developing nations. To boost the speed at which clean energy technology is developed leaders agreed to conduct joint research and voluntarily reduce barriers to trade and investment.
Energy for the Poorest
To increase access to energy among the poor , leaders will deploy clean, affordable energy resources to the developing world by funding (on a voluntary basis) programs such as the Scaling Up Renewable Energy Program and the Energy for the Poor Initiative.
Green Jobs
Leaders once again put a great deal of emphasis on Job Creation. Leaders emphasize the need for training, lifelong learning, and meeting future job market needs. New technologies, clean energy, environment, health, and infrastructure are mentioned as areas of focus to ensure sustainable job creation.
Pennsylvania, host for this gathering, set an example of what is possible with a mandate that 15% of power come from green power. Pittsburgh and region have demonstrated that investments in wind power, battery tech manufacturing, proprietary solar technology can been leveraged with relatively small public investments. In one example, Axion, a private solar panel manufacturer invested over 50 Million dollars based on a relatively miniscule $400 000 state investment. Gamesa, a wind turbine manufacturer in the region started with a $15 Million investment from the state which resulted in over $200 Million company investment.
mportant world process to deal with this critical issue,” Canada’s prime minister, Stephen
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From December to March, ocean seas wash over the atolls and homes devastating the islands. Areas where traditionally farming has been done are covered with salt water. Over 50% of land area has vanished. Ursula showed me in a laminated photo showing how her island home has been split in two and there is now a four minute walk across permanent salt water to the other side of the island.