The recent G7 summit in Italy fell short of delivering significant new progress on climate issues, disappointing experts and activists who were hoping for more ambitious commitments. Despite reiterating previous pledges, such as phasing out unabated coal power generation by the first half of the 2030s, the summit left room for countries to delay action based on their own timelines.
Greenpeace’s Tracy Carty criticized the G7’s plan, stating that it is insufficient to limit temperature rise to 1.5C. The group, which accounts for a significant portion of global emissions and fossil fuel production, also failed to address the issue of public investments in gas.
Climate activists staged a protest outside the summit venue, highlighting the urgent need for action in the face of extreme weather events in vulnerable regions like the Mediterranean. The G7’s initiatives on climate financing and food security were met with skepticism, with concerns raised about engaging small-scale farmers in Africa.
The lack of concrete commitments and the presence of fossil fuel industry representatives at the summit underscored the disconnect between political rhetoric and action on climate change. The ONE Campaign criticized the summit for falling short of expectations, calling for more meaningful efforts to address the climate crisis.
© 2024 AFP