Reporting and opinion by Mathew Carr

May 1-2, 2024 — The G7 nations are risking climate hell — they have given themselves another nine months to dodge tricky climate policy questions.

Kick, kick, kick that can down the road.

They are going to submit revised climate pledges (climate contributions) for 2030 and 2035 by Feb. 10, 2025, neatly dodging the political leadership elections happening this year across the globe.

India’s vote, I realise it is not in the G7, is happening as I write this (it goes on for weeks).

The ministers are also disrespecting climate talks being held later this year… just after the US presidential election.

It seems so-called leaders are not brave enough to actually win a mandate for ambitious climate action BEFORE elections.

That bodes very ill indeed for the prospect of ambitious policy

Politicians have their head in the sand.

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/vietnam-heat-mass-fish-die-dong-nai-lack-water-schools-closed-4305976?cid=TWTcna

Here is the effective predatory delay …set out in the April 30 G7 climate ministers’ document (in full below for download):

We commit to: 

1. submitting NDCs (nationally determined contributions) that demonstrate progression and the highest possible ambition, with economy-wide, absolute reduction targets, covering all GHGs, sectors and categories, aligned with 1.5°C, 9-12 months ahead of CMA.7, emphasizing that it is essential that other major economies submit such NDCs if we are to keep 1.5°C within reach; [CMA.”
2. 7 dates: 10-21 November 2025 in Brazil]

Note the jargon, acronyms, inaccessible language that prevents anyone but experts from deriving meaning out of the document — that is part of a sophisticated downplaying of the importance of what is happening (so the mainstream media has an excuse not to report it properly) … I contend.

The big problem is … global temperatures may never fall below the 1.5C level again … EVER?

Keeping temperatures below 1.5C is probably a complete fantasy …especially since we are already above that level and the world is getting hotter at an increasing pace …not a decreasing one.

This probability …. well …the leaders are just ignoring it … pretty much.

In a rational world, these temperatures would be sounding alarm bells and stirring much more ambition. But the G7’s corporate media is covering up the need for urgency…hiding it from the people …who can’t handle the truth … apparently … especially ahead of elections.

To be sure …the 35 page document does set out a bunch of climate effort and is worth reading.

I’m somewhat comforted by section 5.

Carbon markets and carbon pricing – We reaffirm the importance of high integrity carbon markets and carbon pricing as key measures in promoting an overall 1.5°C pathway to net-zero emissions and underscore their potential contribution to the implementation and enhancement of NDCs and in mobilizing partners beyond the G7, to accelerate the ambitious use of high integrity carbon markets and carbon pricing while providing capacity building support to countries willing to implement carbon markets underpinned by the robust application of the guidance referred to in Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement as applicable, and pricing instruments.

We recognise that the implementation of the Article 6 rulebook can contribute to the achievement of ambitious NDCs and Paris Agreement long-term goals. To this end, 

We commit to: 

1. work jointly towards delivering robust outcomes from the Work Programme on Article 6 at CMA.6; 
2. enhance the provision of capacity building and technical assistance to countries wanting to implement carbon market and pricing instruments including emphasizing the urgency of capacity-building for initial reporting and authorization consistent with Article 6.2 guidance, and encouraging international coordination among the various initiatives related to capacity building, such as the “Paris Agreement Article 6 Implementation Partnership” and the Global Carbon Pricing Challenge; 
3. work with the OECD under the Carbon Market Platform to share our experiences with promoting the implementation of the “Principles of High Integrity Carbon Markets” and actions taken to promote the development of carbon markets while ensuring their environmental integrity; 
4. explore innovative options for carbon markets and carbon pricing to contribute to mobilizing public and private contributions to climate finance and enhancing demand and robust certification standards for carbon dioxide removals. 

It’s unclear to me why the Article 6.4 carbon market being built at UNFCCC level isn’t mentioned.