Jakarta – The Environment, Climate Justice and Energy Transition Working Group of C20 Indonesia calls the G20 Leaders to declare more ambitious commitments in tackling climate change and adopt the principle of climate justice in every aspect of climate mitigation and adaptation, as well as climate finance, during the G20 Summit in November 2022.
The ECE Working Group of C20 Indonesia regrets the inability of the Environment – Climate Ministries of the G20 countries to agree upon a communique, despite the ongoing discussion of the climate crisis. Members of the G20 consist of developed and developing countries which together represent 80% of the global GDP and 75% of International Trade. However, from these economic activities, G20 countries are also responsible for 75% of the global Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions.
The ECE Working Group supports the points that were mentioned in the chair’s summary, including: reducing the impact of land degradation and drought, increasing protection, conservation, and restoration of land and forest ecosystems in a sustainable manner to reduce the impact of climate change and loss of biodiversity and land damage, efforts to reduce pollution and environmental damage, waste management, sustainable water resource management, marine debris, marine conservation, and circular economy which are some of the points that were agreed upon by the ministers.
However, there is currently no discussion or even mention about a clear timeline or leadership for the ambitious targets and climate financing mobilization to achieve the points mentioned in the summary. It is very concerning to know that 71% of public climate finance is delivered through loans, which increases indebtedness in most vulnerable countries that are already facing high levels of debt in the current context of multiple crises, and that without being highly responsible for the climate crisis, are paying the global north’s climate debt. To have a meaningful outcome from the discussion, we urge the G20 leaders to progress on a more measurable plan on tackling climate change and environmental degradation and to reduce the impact of disaster caused by climate change, especially for those most at risk, by strengthening their capacity in adaptation and mitigation effort, recognizing and formalizing the role and engagement of children and young people, particularly girls and young women, women, indigineous people, elders and people with disabilities in climate related work including decision making process.
In addition to that, there has been lack of joint discussions between the EDM-CSWG with the Energy Transition Working Group (ETWG) and the Finance Track of G20 Indonesia, as tackling the issue of climate and environment are inseparable from the outcome of the energy and economic policies. The energy sector is the highest emitter of GHG emissions among other sectors, therefore, the ECE Working Group urges the G20 Leaders to align the just energy transition with the 1,5 degree pathways set by the Paris Agreement and to commit to sustainable resource governance to achieve the balance between protecting the environment and accelerating the development of renewable energy infrastructure, since the infrastructures require tremendous amount of critical minerals and natural resource. We also demand G20 countries stop investing in the fossil fuel industry, which has increased in response to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
According to the Climate Transparency Report 2021, not a single G20 country has reached a sufficient level of climate ambition to halt the rise of global temperature to 1,5 degree celsius. Without a strong commitment from the economic giants of the world, countries and communities that are less responsible for climate change will suffer the bigger impacts. The last IPCC report showed that we have less than three years to change the pattern of global GHG emissions and further warned extreme weather to natural disasters happening more frequently and intensely, affecting mainly the most vulnerable groups in the global south. This crisis has caused death, drought, famine, the extinction of species on a local level, migration and billions of dollars of economic losses.
Indigenous People, local communities and civil society are still inadequately involved in the discussion or planning in tackling climate change or environmental problems. For too long, development and climate initiatives have treated these vulnerable groups as victims, not agents of change who can lead and become a part of the decision-making processes. Many environmental projects that were planned without the presence of local communities, have caused maladaptation that worsen the condition, rather than solving the problems.
“The G20 countries must implement more ambitious measures on halting further destruction of land, coastal, and marine ecosystems and restoring the damaged ones to prevent earth’s temperature rise above 1.5 degree celsius. Protecting natural ecosystems, especially the remaining natural forests, is a cost-effective climate mitigation effort from the AFOLU sector. To realize climate and environmental justice, energy transition and economic recovery measures must always involve and respect the rights of indigenous peoples and local communities and be aligned with the protection and restoration of natural ecosystems,” stated Anggalia Putri, the Coordinator of Sub-Working Group AFOLU and Rights of the ECE Working Group, who was invited to the 3rd EDM-CSWG meeting on Monday (29/08) as an observer.
Finally, we urge all Leaders in the world, members of G20 and non-members of G20 to ensure the protection of the environmental defenders through legal measures, to stop any form of violence, threats, intimidation and criminalization.
For more information: Please contact: wgecjet@civil-20.org
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