For the first time, greenhouse gas emissions produced by the economic systems of the G20 countries (the world's leading economies) have undergone a contraction, albeit a slight one. And they did so in 2019, before the economic crisis caused by the pandemic. The signal — encouraging, despite the figures involved — is contained in a report published on Wednesday 18 November by a network of fourteen research institutes and universities brought together under the Climate Transparency initiative.

Climate Transparency @ClimateT_G20

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OUT NOW! THE CLIMATE TRANSPARENCY REPORT 2020 comparing #G20 #climate action and #G20 recovery packages (#CTreport2020) available at: climate-transparency.org/g20-climate-pe…

♥ 153💬 1 18 nov 2020 · Apri su X →

Between 2005 and 2017, emissions had grown by 1.4 per cent per year

The study examined 100 indicators in order to assess the extent to which governments' promises have been followed by concrete action. In particular, greenhouse gas emissions linked to the energy sector fell, albeit by only 0.1 per cent. A figure that is certainly negligible, but one that could represent a first reversal of the trend — especially when considered in relation to the previous year, 2018, when emissions had instead risen further (by 1.9 per cent). Similarly, over the period between 2005 and 2017, the data had recorded an average increase of 1.4 per cent per year.

During 2020, moreover, due to the recession caused by coronavirus, the contraction is estimated to reach 7.5 per cent. However, the economic recovery that will follow the end of the pandemic will certainly cause emissions levels to rise again. For this reason, the report warns that without a profound transformation of economic systems "it will not in any case be possible to meet the targets set by the Paris Agreement". Namely, in particular, limiting the growth of the global average temperature to a maximum of 2 degrees centigrade by the end of the century compared to pre-industrial levels (while remaining as close as possible to 1.5 degrees).

Coal consumption falls, but oil and gas rise

According to Climate Transparency, the main factor contributing to the decline in 2019 was the reduction in coal consumption (-2 per cent). But also the fact that as many as 19 of the G20 countries recorded an increase in the share of renewable sources in their overall national energy mix. The only exception in this regard is Italy.

Backchannel @BackchannelNews

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The most developed 20 economies in the world managed to reduce CO2 emissions in 2019. Still, they risk delaying #climateaction through recovery packages that heavily support fossil industries, the @ClimateT_G20 report has found.
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unclimatesummit.org/g20climatetran…

♥ 6 18 nov 2020 · Apri su X →

Declines were also recorded in the agricultural sector. By contrast, in the construction sector emissions continued to rise, though less markedly than in previous years. Increases were also recorded in transport and industry. Overall, according to the Berlin-based institute Climate Analytics, which contributed to the preparation of the report, "there have been positive changes, but they are insufficient." Not least because fossil fuels still account for 82 per cent of primary energy production. This is because the decline in coal has unfortunately been offset by an increase in the consumption of oil (+1 per cent) and gas (+3 per cent).