New Delhi: The G20 Environment and Climate Ministers’ Meeting concluded on Friday, July 28, in Chennai, but discussions marked a lack of consensus on crucial issues including mitigation mechanisms and carbon emissions, the outcome document of the meeting revealed. The outcomes, especially on energy, “leave a lot to be desired”, commented experts.The G20 also adopted the “Chennai high-level principles for a sustainable and resilient blue/ocean-based economy” which members can implement on a voluntary basis. Outcome document Discussions during the fourth and last G20 Environment and Climate Sustainability Working Group and Environment and Climate Ministers meeting, per the outcome document, revolved around accelerating climate action, land degradation and how to reduce and prevent it, restoring ecosystems and halting biodiversity loss, promoting resource efficiency and a circular economy, addressing pollution and promoting a blue or ocean-based economy. Topics like ecological restoration, marine spatial planning, and circular economy were addressed in detail for the first time in G20 discussions, reported PTI.“We recall and reaffirm the commitment made by developed countries to the goal of mobilising jointly USD 100 billion climate finance per year by 2020, and annually through 2025, to address the needs of developing countries, in the context of meaningful mitigation action and transparency in implementation. Developed country-contributors expect this goal to be met for the first time in 2023,” the document read.The meeting also discussed sustainable water resource management, and members called for the appointment of a UN Special Envoy on Water, “as soon as possible”, to “contribute to positive actions aimed at meeting global water challenges”. Lack of consensus However, there was a lack of consensus on several aspects, which the outcome document encapsulated in a “Chair’s Summary”, versus a joint communique that signifies consensus amongst the G20 countries.Regarding the discussion on mitigation mechanisms, some G20 members “emphasised” the “need for a global peaking of emissions no later than 2025, and reduction in emissions by 60% by 2035 over 2019 levels”. The talks also covered historical, current and projected carbon emissions, climate finance and attaining net zero. Some G20 members stated the need for developed countries to reach net zero by 2040.Also read: Lack of Unanimity on Climate Targets Among G20 Delegates Worries COP OrganisersThe Summary also mentions discussions on the importance of clean energy transitions, including accelerating the scaling up of renewable energy, tripling renewable capacity, and phasing down fossil fuels. There “exist divergent views” among members on the mandate of the Working Group to discuss energy issues in light of the existence of a separate Energy Transition Working Group, and on issues surrounding energy transitions “and how to reflect them in this document”, per the Summary.The “text indicated that negotiations were mired in differences, with countries failing to rise beyond politics”, commented Madhura Joshi, Senior Associate, Fossil Fuel Transition Team, E3G. The outcomes, especially on energy, leave a lot to be desired, she said. “India has an opportunity to drive the new engine of the global economy by leading the Leaders’ summit in September to course correct climate action and agreeing to – tripling renewables by 2030 to over 11,000GW, doubling the rate of energy efficiency, and phasing out fossil fuels. This is what the science tells us is difficult but feasible and critical for keeping 1.5 alive.”The document very rightly acknowledges that the efforts are insufficient to limit the global temperatures to 1.5 degree Celsius, said Vibhuti Garg, Director, South Asia, Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis, in a press release. But given the increasing extreme weather events worldwide, “we are sitting on a ticking bomb”, she commented. “While the transition should be fair, just and equitable, we need increased commitments and more importantly increased implementation of energy transition in different sectors,” she added. “This will imply tripling of renewable energy targets and doubling of energy efficiency and we need enhanced commitment from countries on this front. Also, access to climate finance especially by the low income countries.”Chennai High-Level Principles adopted The G20 members adopted the ‘Chennai High-Level Principles for a Sustainable and Resilient Blue/ Ocean-based Economy’, which can be implemented on a voluntary basis, “based on national circumstances and priorities”. The document’s nine principles are prioritizing ocean health (by addressing marine pollution, halting and reversing biodiversity loss and conserving coastal and marine ecosystems); acknowledging and addressing the links between ocean and climate; promote social or inter-generational equity and gender equality in ocean-based economy strategies; promote the use of Marine Spatial Planning, which will bring multiple stakeholders across all linked fields to make informed and coordinated decisions on the sustainable use of marine resources; leverage science, technology and innovation in creating a sustainable ocean-based economy; recognize, protect and utilize indigenous and traditional knowledge; establish and implement ocean-based economy monitoring and evaluation mechanisms; strengthen international cooperation to deal with shared maritime challenges and enhance ocean finance.‘India in forefront’ of biodiversity conservation India has consistently been at the forefront in taking action on biodiversity conservation, protection, restoration, and enrichment, and has set the bar even higher through its updated targets, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Friday, while addressing the G20 Environment and Climate Sustainability Ministerial Meeting via video conferencing, reported PTI. Incidentally, his remark comes at a time when the Forest Conservation Amendment Bill – which makes drastic changes to the Forest Conservation Act of 1980, including opening up forests to eco-tourism and the setting up of zoos and safaris – has just been passed in parliament despite numerous protests from experts and citizens. https://t.co/3Tro59MHqQWhat a cruel joke! The Forest Conservation Act 1980 and the National Biodiversity Act 2002 are being amended wholesale despite widespread opposition and the PM says this!Make no mistake these changes to the laws will neither protect biodiversity nor…— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) July 28, 2023