Top emitters urged to provide concrete climate action despite G20 leaders reaffirming 1.5C goal

Biena Magbitang, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="G20 Leaders pose for photos during a mangrove planting event at the Tahura Ngurah Rai Mangrove Forest Park as part of the G20 Leaders" Summit="" in="" November="" The="" Group="" of="" Twenty="" Heads="" State="" and="" Government="" runs="" from="" to="" EPA-EFE="" MAST="" IRHAM="" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2022/news/11/17/planting.jpg"/><figcaption>G20 Leaders pose for photos during a mangrove planting event at the Tahura Ngurah Rai Mangrove Forest Park as part of the G20 Leaders&#x27; Summit in Bali, Indonesia, 16 November 2022. The 17th Group of Twenty (G20) Heads of State and Government Summit runs from 15 to 16 November 2022. <em>EPA-EFE/MAST IRHAM / POOL</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>BALI, INDONESIA - The G20 Media Center was set abuzz as members of the information desk announced the joint communique is ready for public view. </p><p>The Bali Leaders’ Declaration is now <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/11/16/g20-bali-leaders-declaration">uploaded</a>.</p><p>A draft communique seen by some the night before showed that G20 leaders will close their summit in Indonesia this week with a strongly worded statement against Russia’s aggression in Ukraine. But climate advocates have been waiting on bated breath as there were fears major economy leaders are backtracking on their pledge to limit global warming to 1.5C. </p><p>Hundreds of journalists stationed at the Bali International Convention Center scrambled to download the G20 text only to find a 1,186-page document -- complete with the 52-point joint communique and annexes outlining Ministerial Meetings and Working Group files.</p><p>As expected, the tensions in Ukraine dominated the text with leaders rejecting an ‘era of war’. But climate watchers also heave a sigh of relief after G20 leaders reaffirmed their promise to “resolve to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C”</p><p>The communique reiterates the push to phase down coal-fired power and calls for progress at COP27 on ‘loss and damage’ which compensates poor and vulnerable countries for climate harms - a key issue this year.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/spotlight/11/15/22/chinas-xi-returns-to-global-stage-at-g20">China&#x27;s Xi returns to global stage at G20 after COVID isolation</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/11/16/22/indonesia-proposes-nickel-producer-bloc-at-canada-g20-talks">Indonesia proposes nickel producer bloc at Canada G20 talks</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/11/13/22/g20-ministers-launch-billion-dollar-pandemic-fund">G20 ministers launch billion-dollar pandemic fund</a></li></ul><div><strong>Igniting climate talks</strong></div><p>For climate scientist and Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) author Dr. Rosa Perez, the declaration “echoes the pursuits of many negotiators” in Egypt.</p><p>Analysts, scientists, and campaigners also hope the G20 text can breathe a new life in this year&#x27;s climate talks. </p><p>&quot;That the G20 recognized the need to cut emissions and limit warming to 1.5 should provide impetus to the governments gathered at COP27 to agree on a similarly strong outcome,&quot; Bill Hare, CEO of Climate Analytics, told ABS-CBN News.</p><p>“The positive signals from the G20 summit should put wind in the sails of the climate talks in Egypt, which are entering their final days,” Ani Dasgupta, President and CEO of World Resources Institute said in a statement.</p><p>This is echoed by Julia Behrens, Director of Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung’s Climate and Energy in Asia Project, “I welcome the communique as hopefully a push at the right time to advance the stuck and slow negotiations at COP and appreciate the mention of just transition,”</p><div><strong>Just rhetorics?</strong></div><p>But some are sounding the alarm. </p><p>Climatologist and IPCC author Lourdes Tibig said that theoretically there’s nothing wrong with the communique.</p><p>“However, note the words &quot;welcome&quot;, &quot;recognize&quot; and &quot;committed to&quot;- they are all rhetorics. Where are the action words? We are in a climate emergency and yet, these are what the G20 say? They invite Parties to scale up (mitigation) and (adaptation) ambition? How about them?” Tibig argued.</p><p>“If you read between the words, you know what I mean,”</p><p>This observation was shared by Greenpeace Southeast Asia Executive Director Yeb Sano who used to head the Philippine delegation to the United Nations climate conference.</p><p>“Long on rhetoric and short on instruction, G20 leaders in Bali could have closed the gap between the urgent needs of world’s most climate vulnerable communities and countries and the actions of the richest and most polluting. They chose not to.” </p><p>For Sano, the bloc simply fell short of making any progress.</p><p>“G20 countries went to the COP in Egypt and put on a performance before getting down to the serious business of business-as-usual politics in Bali. It is time they accepted that you can either protect the fossil fuelled macroeconomic model or the planet, for only one of which we have alternatives. It is time they woke up and smelt the loss and damage!” he said.</p><div><strong>Concrete actions</strong></div><p>Climate activist Marinel Ubaldo said the commitments made by the G20 leaders “are still very broad.”</p><p>“We need to continue holding these leaders accountable for the present and past pledges that they have yet to deliver,” she added.</p><p>For Joshua Kurlantzick, senior fellow for Southeast Asia at the Council on Foreign Relations, “ most of the major powers are not either equipped or ready to make such commitments,”</p><p>“There are no real promises here to enforce any of the promises made. Just promises - and a talk of carbon pricing but not commitment to it. Without real enforcement these actions won&#x27;t be taken,” he said.</p><div><strong>Fossil fuel phase out</strong></div><p>The statement released by think tank Center for Energy, Ecology, and Development also did not mince words in calling the communique “cowardice” for diluting “its commitment to achieving global net zero emissions.&quot;</p><p>“It did not pinpoint the root of the problem: our fossil fuel dependence… It is too late to phase out one fossil fuel at a time and too little room to only phase down unabated coal power - which means the Bali communique still provides loopholes for the proliferation of coal technologies that claim to tone down emissions. Phasing out all fossil fuels, including fossil gas, is what is required,” </p><p>As COP27 enters its home stretch, countries have yet to resolve differences to agree on a climate deal. And while the G20 climate declaration is a welcomed development to some, advocates are still ramping up pressure on leaders to provide concrete actions to the climate crisis. </p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/overseas/11/15/22/g20-rues-economic-impact-of-ukraine-most-condemn-war">G20 rues economic impact of Ukraine, &#x27;most&#x27; condemn war</a></li></ul><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=2343760" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more News on <a href="https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news" target="_blank">iWantTFC</a></div>

The G20 Media Center was set abuzz as members of the information desk announced the joint communique is ready for public view. 

Top emitters urged to provide concrete climate action despite G20 leaders reaffirming 1.5C goal | ABS-CBN

Entertainment

News

Metro.Style

Lifestyle

Sports

More

Traffic

Manila

Horoscope

Business

Top emitters urged to provide concrete climate action despite G20 leaders reaffirming 1.5C goal

Biena Magbitang,

ABS-CBN News

Published Nov 17, 2022 11:34 AM PHT

|

Updated Nov 17, 2022 11:51 AM PHT

Read More:

G20

climate change

climate action

climate commitment

COP27

ali Leaders’ Declaration

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.