WWF's response to G20 Summit Communique

Posted on December, 01 2018

Commenting on the G20 Summit, Manuel Pulgar-Vidal, leader of WWF’s global climate and energy practice, said: “G20 was always going to be an important indicator of political will going into the next round of UN climate talks. That G20 leaders signed up to the Paris Agreement reaffirmed their commitment to its full implementation in the resulting communique is important. It is also a reflection of the Argentinian government rightly making climate an important topic on the agenda.

Commenting on the G20 Summit, Manuel Pulgar-Vidal, leader of WWF’s global climate and energy practice, said:

“G20 was always going to be an important indicator of political will going into the next round of UN climate talks. That leaders of 19 of the world's largest economies signed up to the Paris Agreement reaffirmed their commitment to its full implementation in the resulting communique is important. It is also a reflection of the Argentinian government rightly making climate an important topic on the agenda.

“WWF strongly welcomes the UN, France and China statement expressing France and China's highest political commitment to implementing the Paris Agreement and recognizing the critical need to link climate efforts to biodiversity.

"The UN climate talks next week in Poland remain crucial to securing a future free from runaway climate change. World leaders must recognize that unprecedented action cannot be delayed. The ball can't be kicked down the road. Crucially, businesses, cities and other non-state actors have shown this year that they are willing to support national governments in closing the emissions gap."

WWF applauds the Government of Argentina for ensuring that a G20 communique was issued with climate change included as a key focus. This:

notes the findings of the latest IPCC Special Report on the Impacts of Global Warming of 1.5C;
recognizes the importance of comprehensive adaptation strategies, including investment in infrastructure that is resilient to extreme weather events and disasters;
supports actions and cooperation in developing countries, especially those that are particularly vulnerable, including small island states such as those in the Caribbean;
notes the discussion of long-term low greenhouse gas emission development strategies and alignment of international finance flows, and countries´ experiences and considered the 2018-2019 work program on adaptation, acknowledging that each country may chart its own path to achieving a low emission future; with
signatories to the Paris Agreement, who have also joined the Hamburg Action Plan, reaffirming that the Paris Agreement is irreversible and committing to its full implementation, reflecting common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities, in light of different national circumstances.

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