The group of the world’s twenty wealthiest nations plans to discuss a phase-out of coal from power generation in October, according to Italian Ecological Transition Minister Roberto Cingolani, who led a recent meeting of G20 energy and environment ministers. Cingolani said the discussions were tough, and the group could not agree on all issues.
Among discussed points were ending fossil fuel subsidies, stopping financing to unabated coal projects, and phasing out coal from power generation by 2025. The majority of the G20 agrees on the urgency of those actions. However, major emitters China and India, declined to sign up to two points. Hence, the group would attempt to reach a deal in the next leaders’ summit in Rome on October 30-21.
Environmental groups have increasingly frustrated over G20’s slow progress on reducing fossil fuel use. While the majority of the group has acknowledged the urgency to cap the global temperature increase at 1.5 degrees Celsius, they have failed to set a date to end their coal use and financing. Activists hoped G20 could make significant progress in the October meeting, which will be followed by the UN’s climate talks in November.
