Success at Glasgow depends on bridging fault lines
Renata Dwan
The G20 summit’s lack of progress on climate highlights the scale of the challenge – and the stakes – for COP26. The countries responsible for 80 per cent of global emissions recognized but failed to agree concrete action to limit global warming to 1.5C.
Communique’s language was weak
Platitudes and vague plans on pandemic preparedness
G20 communique is a launching pad
But the principles are in the document, and mostly everyone turned up – if some by video. That is a good outcome for this kind of multilateralism in 2021. The G20 communique is a floor not a ceiling, and it’s a launching pad for activism and mobilisation by individual states, but also by corporates, civil society, and subnational actors.
Now we need to hope that those on the right side of progress, whether on climate, health, or development, will use this language to drive forward concrete actions towards net zero, climate finance, vaccine distribution, and debt relief.
Specifics are for the most part missing
Creon Butler