India, with China's support, is pushing for consensus within the G20 group to allow countries to choose their own approach to reducing carbon emissions, rather than imposing a deadline for phasing out fossil fuels, according to three anonymous Indian government officials. India, the current G20 president, is promoting the inclusion of "multiple energy pathways" in a communique set to be released at a group summit in September, garnering support from countries such as China and South Africa.
Allowing multiple pathways for energy transition would enable nations to utilize various resources, including coal, while working towards net-zero emissions targets. At last month's G20 Energy Transitions Working Group (ETWG) meeting in Gujarat, India, the country opposed a deadline suggested by wealthy nations to discontinue the use of coal. Coal is responsible for nearly 75% of India's annual electricity generation, and the nation has consistently defended its use, highlighting lower emissions per capita compared to other countries.
China supported India during the meeting, stating that it cannot establish a timeline for ending fossil fuel reliance and wants to optimize the use of all available resources. India and China are the world's largest consumers of coal. Chinese foreign affairs and environment ministries did not respond to Reuters' queries.
Officials claim this marks the first time India has used the term "multiple pathways" in global climate negotiations against repeated demands by Western countries to cease coal usage. One official mentioned that the concept aligns with the 2015 Paris Agreement's stance on "common but differentiated responsibilities, under different national circumstances," which wealthy countries often overlook when demanding a coal phase-out.
During the last climate change discussions in Egypt in November 2022, India responded to calls for phasing down coal usage by suggesting that all fossil fuels, including natural gas, should be phased out. At the G20 meeting last month, India maintained its focus on fossil fuels as a whole, rather than singling out coal.
India and China, the world's two most populous nations, have frequently adopted similar positions in international climate change negotiations, despite ongoing border disputes. The European Union agreed in March to support a global fossil fuel phase-out ahead of the COP28 summit in Dubai this November.
Delhi will host a G20 leaders' summit in September, featuring U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Officials are meeting ahead of the summit to finalize the group's stance on global issues, including climate change. The G20 comprises G7 countries, as well as Russia, China, India, Brazil, Australia, and Saudi Arabia, among others.
