SUSTAINABILITY: CLEAN ENERGY
G20 performance on energy Brazil can leverage its achievements in renewable energy to advance the G20’s Ella Kokotsis, director of accountability, G20 Research Group
W ith one of the cleanest energy mixes in the G20, Brazil is well poised to make clean energy policy a central focus of its summit in Rio de Janeiro. Building on the historic agreements of the 2023 United Nations climate conference, G20 discussions are expected to concentrate on practical ways to reduce reliance on fossil fuels while finding innovative financial instruments to mobilise public and private capital to support climate resilience, particularly in the world’s most vulnerable regions. By leveraging the G20 platform to showcase its own renewable energy success, Brazil will push for stronger alignment on global energy governance that better supports the G20’s efforts to address global inequities, particularly in the Global South. And with Brazil hosting the 2025 UN climate conference in Belém, the Rio Summit will likely address balancing energy security concerns with global climate goals, particularly given the recent disruptions in energy markets. But keeping 1.5°C within range requires G20 members in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development to generate 100% clean energy by 2035, and all other members by 2040. Whether Brazil, under President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, can push for rapid decarbonisation while reducing reliance on fossil fuels will be key to the success of its G20 presidency. DELIBERATION Since the inaugural summit in Washington in 2008, energy-related references have appeared consistently in G20 declarations. The 2009 Pittsburgh Summit had the most, with 14% dedicated to energy. The 2020 Riyadh and 2022 Bali summits followed closely, with 11% each. Hamburg
ELLA KOKOTSIS Ella Kokotsis, PhD, is director of accountability of the G20 and G7 Research Groups. She has attended many summits since 1994, has written broadly on various aspects of summitry and global governance, has directed the research and publication of numerous analytical documents, and has spoken extensively at summit-related conferences worldwide. She is co-author, with John Kirton and Brittaney Warren, of ~äÎńĸÿČƙŲěĸČƈƊėäƈ:īńÅ°īƈ:ńƲäŲĸ°ĸÎäƈ ńûƈīěĴ°Ɗäƈė°ĸČä and, with John Kirton, of ėäƈ:īńÅ°īƈ:ńƲäŲĸ°ĸÎäƈńûƈīěĴ°Ɗäƈ ė°ĸČäÖƈ:ſ×ƈ:ƕdžƈ°ĸÙƈbƈXä°ÙäŲŷėěŝ . @g20rg : www.g20.utoronto.ca in 2017 and Rome in 2021 both devoted 9%, while Seoul in 2010, Cannes in 2011 and St Petersburg in 2013 each allocated 7%. Washington in 2008 and Toronto in 2010 had the lowest, with just 1% each. The 2023 New Delhi Summit gave 9%. The 2014 Brisbane and 2017 Hamburg summits issued stand-alone documents on energy. The G20 Energy Transitions Working Group, first established as the Energy Sustainability Working Group, has focused in recent years on energy security, battery-powered electric vehicles, affordable energy financing, sustainable transportation systems and inclusive decarbonisation pathways. In support of the G20 Energy Transition Agenda, Brazil hosted one of 2024’s largest clean energy events in Foz do Iguaçu from 30 September to 4 October, with public-private involvement from 80% of global clean energy investment representatives and an action-focused agenda.
decarbonisation and energy security goals, building on historic climate agreements with robust, highly binding energy commitments
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G20 BRAZIL: THE RIO SUMMIT — 2024
globalgovernanceproject.org
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