Introduction:
According to three Indian government officials, with the support of China, India is working towards establishing a consensus within the G20 group to allow countries to adopt multiple energy pathways and a customized roadmap for reducing carbon emissions instead of imposing a fixed deadline for phasing out fossil fuels.
India’s G20 presidency aims to include ‘multiple energy pathways’ in the group’s September summit communique. According to one official, this proposal has garnered support from several countries, including China and South Africa. The officials remained anonymous as they were not authorized to speak to the media.
During a recent meeting of the G20 Energy Transitions Working Group (ETWG) in Gujarat, India expressed its opposition to a proposed deadline by wealthy nations to phase out coal, according to an official who attended the meeting. Government data shows that coal contributes to almost three-quarters of India’s annual electricity generation. India has long defended its fuel use, citing relatively lower emissions per capita compared to other nations.
During the meeting, China supported India and said a fixed timeline to end reliance on fossil fuels is not feasible. Instead, China emphasized the need to maximize all available resources.
Both nations rank as the world’s largest consumers of coal
- Reuters’ requests for comment from China’s foreign affairs and environment ministries went unanswered.
- The Indian power ministry chose not to comment, while the environment and renewable energy ministries did not respond.
A group of seven climate ministers pledged to end unmitigated fossil fuel use for net-zero energy by 2050.
China supported India at the meeting, saying a fixed timeline to end fossil fuel dependence is not feasible. Instead, the official said China intends to make the most of all its available resources. Officials said that India used ‘multiple pathways’ in climate talks to counter Western calls to phase out coal usage.
Another official remarked that the usage of ‘multiple pathways’ aligns with the principles of the 2015 Paris Agreement on tackling climate change, which prioritizes “common but differentiated responsibilities under different national circumstances.” The official stated that rich countries neglect this aspect when demanding the discontinuation of coal.
A third official said each country must have a distinct approach to meet national commitments and resources.
During the climate change talks in Egypt in November 2022, India received requests to reduce its dependence on coal. However, in response, India called for a phase-out of all fossil fuels, including natural gas. In the G20 meeting held recently, India maintained its emphasis on fossil fuels instead of singling out coal, as per the remarks of the third official.
Despite their long-standing border disputes, India and China, the world’s two most populous nations, often hold similar views in global climate change talks.
In March, the European Union agreed to encourage a worldwide phase-out of fossil fuels before the COP28 conference scheduled for November in Dubai.
Delhi is set to host a G20 summit in September, which will be attended by world leaders such as U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping. After this summit, officials are convening to determine the group’s stance on various global issues, including climate change.
The G20 comprises several countries, including G7 members Russia, China, India, Brazil, Australia, and Saudi Arabia.
Conclusion:
With the support of several other countries in the G20, India, and China are advocating for ‘multiple energy pathways’ instead of a fixed deadline for phasing out fossil fuels. This proposal has gained momentum, and India plans to introduce the term at the group’s summit in September. Moreover, as the world’s largest coal consumers, both countries often share common positions in global climate change negotiations. As a result, the G20, which includes G7 members Russia, China, India, Brazil, Australia, and Saudi Arabia, can potentially drive significant progress in the transition towards multiple energy pathways.
