G20 energy meet short of energy

The ministerial on energy transition in Goa last week set a direction, but yielded less than what was sought for. There was no consensus on an agreement with targets or clear markers for sustainable low-carbon energy systems. The final document lacks references to phasing down the unabated use of fossil fuels, and skirts the call for tripling renewable energy (RE) capacity by focusing on clean energy technologies. Goa made clear that essaying the energy transition will require thinking outside the box and building new alliances and partnerships.

There was no unanimity on the fossil fuels front because some countries could not transcend national interests to agree on a measure that climate science shows is essential to limit the adverse impacts of climate change. For India, it was deja vu. At COP27 in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, last year, India’s proposal for an agreement to phase down fossil fuels was supported by 80 countries, including the EU, an early supporter of the effort. But it could not garner the support of traditional negotiating partners like China and Saudi Arabia. The Goa ministerial has made clear the need to look beyond traditional partners and allies if real action needs to happen, especially to address the needs of the most vulnerable people who also bear the brunt of extreme weather events.

India has an opportunity to revisit some of these issues at the G20 Leaders’ Summit in September in Delhi, and then again at the annual climate talks (COP28) in Dubai. Be it an ambitious target for increasing RE capacity, setting the standards for green hydrogen, and laying the foundation for an energy economy that has the lowest possible carbon footprint, India will need to find new partners and allies.