CLIMATE CHANGE GOVERNANCE
our dependence on imported energy through conservation and the development of alternative sources.” Thus, energy conservation and clean energy from the development of alternatives to oil fuels was the future they foresaw and sought to foster. From then until their most recent summit in Italy in June 2024, G7 leaders made 656 energy commitments, constituting 9% of those on all subjects and second among all subjects. G7 governments have complied with them at an average of 85%. They were led by the European Union at 95%, followed by the United States at 94%, the United Kingdom 92%, Germany 89%, Canada 87%, France 84%, Japan 80% and Italy 70%, with Russia at 62% during the expanded G8. Over the last four years alone, the G7 made 198 energy commitments, complied with them at 96%, with the US under President Joe Biden at 100%. Almost all were on clean, renewable energy and a just transition. G7 summits have made many commitments on energy, climate change and the environment that are due for delivery in 2025, with five promising to end fossil fuel subsidies by then. Complying with this one commitment would conserve energy, spur the shift to renewables, save governments and their taxpayers $7 trillion a year according to the International Monetary Fund, cut greenhouse gas emissions by 20%, curb crime and corruption, and improve people’s health. The next G7 summit, on June 15-17, 2025, chaired by Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau, could act on this. When Trudeau hosted the G7 summit in 2018, the leaders – including US president Donald Trump – made five energy commitments, which secured complete compliance of 100%. G7 summits have also repeatedly promised to support the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, including SDG 7 to “ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all.” Almost all are now off track. But with Covid’s crippling impact fading fast, and Trump due to depart before 2029, a heroic two-year G7 effort could meet the SDG 7 and the other closely related SDGs. G20 Energy Governance The newer, bigger, broader, North-South–balanced G20 has joined the G7 to help shape the world’s energy future in a slower but still supportive, increasingly ecologically sustainable, just way. It will do so much more after 2026. The G20’s energy governance started at its first summit, in Washington DC in 2008, stating: “We remain committed to addressing other critical challenges such as energy security and climate change.” At the second summit, in April 2009, G20 leaders “pledged to do whatever is necessary to … build an inclusive, green, and sustainable recovery … [and] make the transition towards clean, innovative,
JOHN KIRTON John Kirton is the director of the Global Governance Program, which includes the G20 Research Group, the G7 Research Group and the BRICS Research Group, base at the University of Toronto where he is a professor emeritus of political science. +HLVDXWKRURI**RYHUQDQFHIRUD*OREDOL]HG:RUOGFRŧ author of Reconfiguring the Global Governance of Climate Change, and co-editor of G20 Brazil: The 2024 Rio Summit and G7 Italy: The 2024 Apulia Summit as well as a global health series, including the recent Health: A Political Choice – Building Resilience and Trust. Ϧ%%&$-/*)222Α"ʹ"ͯͭ Α0/*-*)/*Α resource efficient, low carbon technologies and infrastructure.” At their third summit, in September 2009, they made their historic commitment “to phase out and rationalize over the medium-term inefficient fossil fuel subsidies while providing targeted support for the poorest. Inefficient fossil fuel subsidies encourage wasteful consumption, reduce our energy security, impede investment in clean energy sources and undermine efforts to deal with the threat of climate change.” During their 19 G20 regular summits through to November 2024, G20 leaders made 200 energy commitments, for 5% of all, putting energy in fifth place. Their governments’ compliance averaged 70%, led by France, the UK and Korea at 82%, followed by the US at 78%, Germany 76%, Brazil and China 74% each and India 72%. The above-average scores for the US, China and India, now the world’s largest fossil fuel–fired climate
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THE FUTURE OF ENERGY
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