Campaigners are raising alarms as the G20 group of nations, including the US, UK, China, and India, appear to be stepping back from their pledge to transition away from fossil fuels. As ministers gather in Rio de Janeiro this week to discuss global climate strategies, the latest draft of the G20 communique has omitted explicit language on phasing out fossil fuels, sparking fears of a reversal on the progress made at last year’s UN Cop28 summit.
The “transition away from fossil fuels” commitment, considered a crucial outcome of Cop28 in Dubai, marked the first time countries acknowledged the need to address the root cause of the climate crisis. However, leaked documents reveal that the latest draft only makes an indirect reference to this pledge, focusing instead on increasing renewable energy and improving energy efficiency.
Brazil, which holds the G20 presidency, has faced resistance from oil-producing countries like Saudi Arabia, who are attempting to downplay the necessity of phasing out fossil fuels. Climate advocates warn that dropping the commitment could jeopardize the fight against global warming.
Stela Herschmann of Observatório do Clima in Brazil emphasized the urgency of directly addressing fossil fuels: “Countries need to operationalize this now, and the G20 should lead this discussion, not shy away from it.”
Shreeshan Venkatesh of the Climate Action Network echoed these concerns, noting the escalating costs of climate inaction. “Finance is flowing in the wrong direction, adding fuel to the intensifying climate crisis,” he warned.
As G20 leaders prepare for their November summit, where geopolitical conflicts may dominate discussions, environmentalists hope that the climate crisis will not be sidelined. With next year’s Cop30 to be held in Brazil’s Amazon, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has called for economic justice, advocating for a global wealth tax to aid poorer countries in addressing climate impacts.
The world watches closely to see if the G20 will reaffirm its climate commitments—or retreat from them.