I welcome the G20 Environment and Climate Sustainability Working Group Ministerial Declaration. This declaration both acknowledges the G20’s responsibility for the majority of greenhouse gas emissions, resource use and waste generation and reaffirms the G20’s commitment to doing something about the resulting environmental challenges.
It is encouraging to see a specific commitment to drive forward action at the upcoming gathering of the Rio Conventions on climate change, biodiversity and land. It is encouraging to see a commitment to full engagement with the final round of negotiations on an instrument to end plastic pollution, which take place this November in Republic of Korea.
And it is encouraging to see specific commitments around Brazil’s G20 agenda, which covers adaptation to climate change, oceans, payment for ecosystem services, waste and circular economy.
I commend you, the G20 Ministers of Environment and Climate, for your leadership and vision, particularly under Brazil’s presidency.
The key now – as it is for every nation, every business and every investor – is to take these commitments and turn them into rapid and concrete action. Because the clock is running down ever faster to 2030, the point at which the world is supposed to meet vital targets across the whole triple planetary crisis of climate change, nature and land loss, and pollution and waste. And the point at which the Sustainable Development Goals are expected to be delivered.
So, G20 nations must dramatically increase financing for and investment in sustainable solutions. Decarbonize their economies at a far faster rate. Protect and restore their lands and nature, including by working with indigenous peoples. Tackle pollution of the air, land and water – starting with helping to deliver a strong instrument to end plastic pollution.
The world will not be fixed overnight, so the G20 must move away from independent cycles and ensure multiyear planning on environment and climate sustainability to create even stronger continuity between presidencies and ensure that the environment is also carried across working groups. A ‘whole of society’ approach needs to be echoed by a ‘whole of G20’ approach to the environment.
My thanks to Brazil for their leadership in this cycle. UNEP looks forward to working with South Africa as it takes on the G20 presidency.
