Tatsat Chronicle Magazine

Drastic Cut In Global Emissions Emerges at Petersberg Climate Dialogue

May 4, 2023
Climate Justice
Tipping point: Climate activism is increasingly becoming mainstream ( Photo: JOHN ENGLART| FLICKR )

There was a broader consensus over the need for a drastic cut in global emissions and a global, binding target for expansion of renewables at the just concluded Petersberg Climate Dialogue hosted by Germany.

Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change and Labour and Employment Bhupender Yadav said the Petersberg Climate Dialogue concluded in Berlin with delegates having worked towards laying the groundwork for joint decisions at COP28. In a series of tweets, he said there was a broader consensus over the need for a drastic cut in global emissions and a global, binding target for expansion of renewables.

“Highlighted that the Global Stock take outcome should focus on how climate change impacts, actions and responses have a bearing on the developmental priorities of developing countries including eradication of poverty,” he tweeted.

Yadav said India put forth its side strongly at the discussions. It was reiterated that recognizing the need for support towards Just, Affordable and Inclusive Energy Transition is crucial in the spirit of leaving no one behind.

Yadav said while following the clean energy pathway, to protect livelihood of local population and local economy, which depend on the existing energy system, focus on diversifying the economy and creation of new livelihood opportunities are required.

He highlighted that the Global Stock take outcome should focus on how climate change impacts, actions and responses have a bearing on the developmental priorities of developing countries including eradication of poverty. He said the outcome of the first GST should seek to convey a message on sustainable lifestyles as well as sustainable consumption to inform the next round of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and enhanced international cooperation.

Meanwhile, in his address UN Secretary-General António Guterres said that Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change tells us that breaching 1.5°C, even temporarily, could be disastrous.  Yet, temperatures are set to rise 2.8°C by the end of the century if we maintain the present policies.

“And we know that a 1.5°C pathway is possible.  Yet, we will only achieve it with a quantum leap in climate action globally.”

We must be upfront about what this requires:  it requires cooperation — rising above geopolitical divisions; climate justice — developed countries and international financial institutions delivering on long-overdue finance; and cleaning up our economies — breaking our fossil-fuel addiction and driving decarbonization in every sector, he said.

“I have proposed to the G20 a Climate Solidarity Pact — in which all big emitters make extra efforts to cut emissions, and wealthier countries support emerging economies to be able to do so,” he said while adding that last month he presented a plan to super-charge efforts to achieve this through the Acceleration Agenda.

This proposes that all countries hit fast-forward on their net-zero deadlines.  It asks developed countries to commit to reaching net-zero as close as possible to 2040, the limit they should all aim to respect, and emerging economies to commit to reaching net-zero as close as possible to 2050 — again, the limit they should all aim to respect, he said.