In a critical G20 ministerial delegation meeting held in Goa, India, major fossil fuel-producing nations, including Saudi Arabia and Russia, voiced their opposition to a proposal put forward by G7 countries. The proposition aimed to triple the renewable energy capacity of G20 nations by 2030. Additionally, China, the world's largest emitter of carbon dioxide, along with coal-exporting countries South Africa and Indonesia, also opposed the plan. The current holder of the G20 presidency, India, maintained a neutral stance on the matter.
The renewable energy targets were based on a report from the International Energy Agency (IEA), as disclosed by two sources who attended the meeting. However, Russia and Saudi Arabia were reluctant to accept the proposed targets, citing natural gas's critical role in their energy mix.
Another contentious topic of discussion during the meeting revolved around hydrogen production, seen as a potential solution to transition away from fossil fuels. While some members advocated for adopting the term “low-carbon hydrogen,” which could encompass hydrogen produced using gas with lower carbon intensity than coal, others preferred the term “green hydrogen,” produced solely from renewable energy sources.
Moreover, the ongoing conflict in Ukraine also became a point of disagreement during the meeting. As the EU and the US expressed concerns over the war and energy insecurity resulting from it, Russia, which labels the conflict as a special military operation, raised the issue of attacks on the Nord Stream gas pipeline from Russia to Germany for the first time in a G20 meeting.
The meeting, which extended for hours on Thursday and into the early hours of Friday, saw differing opinions on how to describe the situation in Ukraine. Given the lack of consensus on several critical matters, it is anticipated that the meeting may not result in a joint statement. Instead, a summary will likely be published, outlining the most significant dialogues and disagreements.
It is noteworthy that climate change and its associated challenges, such as record-breaking heatwaves, have become increasingly pressing concerns worldwide. Scientists have attributed these extreme weather events to the burning of fossil fuels. However, reaching a unified stance on renewable energy targets and addressing geopolitical tensions remains a complex task for the G20 nations.
