UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has warned that humanity’s dependence on fossil fuels has opened the gates to hell during a climate summit where major polluters China and the United States were absent. Despite escalating extreme weather events and record-breaking global temperatures, greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise while oil and gas companies profit. Guterres has organized the Climate Ambition Summit as a platform for leaders or ministers to announce specific actions to fulfill their commitments under the Paris Agreement. However, leaders who have not formulated concrete plans to achieve net-zero greenhouse emissions have been excluded from speaking.
Notable absentees from the summit include China, the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, and India. The absence of leaders from these major economies and emitters is expected to impact the outcomes of the summit. Reasons for their non-attendance range from competing issues like the Ukraine conflict and US-China tensions, to rising economic uncertainty and the influence of the fossil fuel industry lobby. However, some view this absence as a positive development, as it reflects a departure from previous summits where leaders were given the opportunity to showcase climate leadership on the global stage while pursuing fossil fuel projects domestically.
While US President Joe Biden did not attend the summit, he sent his climate envoy John Kerry, who will not be allowed to speak during the segment reserved for movers and doers. The United States, despite historical investments in renewables, continues to expand its fossil fuel projects. In contrast, California Governor Gavin Newsom will represent the state at the summit, and London Mayor Sadiq Khan will attend on behalf of Britain.
Climate activists, particularly young people, are growing increasingly frustrated. Last weekend, thousands participated in the March to End Fossil Fuels in New York. Observers are eagerly awaiting the speeches of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and European Union President Ursula von der Leyen, particularly regarding their goals and financing commitments for developing nations. The promise made by advanced economies in 2009 to contribute $100 billion to less developed countries by 2020 was not fulfilled, and the operationalization of a loss and damage fund to assist nations most affected by climate change has yet to occur.
Colombia and Panama recently joined the Powering Past Coal Alliance, which is significant considering Colombia is the world’s sixth-largest coal exporter. These positive developments provide some hope amid the challenges of climate action.
In conclusion, the Climate Ambition Summit is taking place without the participation of major polluters. While the absence of these leaders may impact the outcomes, it also reflects a departure from previous summits where leaders were able to showcase climate leadership while pursuing fossil fuel projects domestically. The summit aims to encourage concrete plans for achieving net-zero greenhouse emissions and address financing commitments for developing nations. Colombia and Panama joining the Powering Past Coal Alliance are notable positive developments in the fight against climate change.
