Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | 19 November 2024 — Leaders of the G20 nations meeting in Rio this week issued a communiqué that fails to make a stronger mention of fossil fuels. Despite recognising the outcome of last year's COP28 in Dubai, which commits countries to ‘transition away from fossil fuels’ among other things, this intentionally vague and buried reference obfuscates the action that's really needed by avoiding any specific obligations around fossil fuel phase out or a just transition. 

This weak statement falls short of a strong outcome expected from the group that has given more than $1.4 trillion in support to the coal, oil and gas industry in 2022 alone. The omission of further commitments to phase out fossil fuels and a strong signal on finance for climate action, which is critical to underpin a global, just energy transition, is particularly concerning in the context of COP29 being held this week in Baku, Azerbaijan, where nations’ biggest focus is to negotiate the new global goal on climate finance, and where the Dubai agreement is expected to be upheld, especially by wealthy nations.

In response to the communiqué, Harjeet Singh, Global Engagement Director of the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative, said:

"World leaders at the G20 Summit displayed a stark failure in leadership, neglecting to reaffirm their commitment to transitioning away from fossil fuels—a critical pivot for global climate action. Their rehashed rhetoric offers no solace for the fraught COP29 negotiations, where we continue to see a deadlock on climate finance. Developed nations who have significant historical emissions and planned fossil fuel expansion, remain unmoved, failing to quantify the trillions needed or to ensure these funds are provided as grants—essential for achieving climate justice. Without decisive progress on finance at COP29, we are steering towards a catastrophic temperature scenario, where the most vulnerable will bear the gravest consequences."