On 22 and 23 July 2021, the G20 "Environment, Climate and Energy" meetings were held in Naples with the aim of strengthening the shared vision and partnership to accelerate the transition to clean energy and tackle the problems of climate change.
The G20 meetings represented a favorable opportunity to define a common strategy for the upcoming event of the 26th Conference of the Parties on United Nations Climate Change (COP26). There was a shared commitment to work constructively to pave the way for the success of the COP26 and to obtain “ambitious and balanced” results.
One of the key points at the center of the meeting and dialogue is to make it possible to achieve the sustainable development goal (SDG 7) of ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern economic energy systems for all.
Furthermore, the COVID-19 pandemic also had a great impact on the approach and conclusions reached during the meetings. On the one hand, it highlighted and reinforced the importance of using science to guide policy development. On the other hand, the need to ensure that post-Covid recovery measures are compatible with environmental protection was recognized as essential.
The main objectives and commitments to combat climate change that were established during the meeting are, in summary:
- to accelerate the transition to clean energy and exit from coal for electricity production;
- to underline the commitment to keep the global average temperature increase below 1.5 ° C;
- to bring the Paris Agreements to full and effective application, finalizing the outstanding mandates;
- to recognize the importance of sustainable urban development and encourage the development of "smart, resilient and sustainable" cities;
- to encourage the mobilization of funds by international financial institutions;
- finally, the goal of jointly raising 100 billion dollars a year from 2020 to 2025 to be directed to developing countries was reconfirmed.
Also, considering the very recent IPPC report, specific measures must be promptly initiated so that objectives and commitments do not remain only on paper.