The Heavy Steps of G20 Nations in Pursuing Carbon Emission Reduction Targets

G20 member countries have committed to reducing carbon emissions to mitigate the risks of climate change.

Details of these commitments and emission reduction targets are outlined in each country's Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) document.

However, according to a recent report by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), current policies in G20 countries are insufficient to achieve these targets.

"Collectively, G20 members are not on track to meet their NDCs. There is a gap between projected carbon emissions based on current policies and projected emissions according to NDC implementation targets," UNEP stated in the *Emissions Gap Report 2022*.

"Ambitious targets are important, but they don't amount to much without equally ambitious policies and accelerated implementation," it continued.

Policies Not Aligned with Targets

Based on the NDC targets declared by September 2022, the G20 is projected to have an average of 6.9 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2e) per capita in 2030.

However, based on current policies, the average G20 carbon emissions are projected to reach 7.3 tCO2e per capita in 2030.

This means that if current G20 policies remain unchanged, the carbon emission reduction targets set in the NDCs will not be achieved.

A similar problem exists in individual G20 countries.

Australia, for example. Based on its NDC target, Australia's carbon emissions are projected to reach 12.2 tCO2e per capita in 2030. However, based on current Australian policies, emissions will increase to 16.8 tCO2e per capita.

This problem is also found in other G20 member countries, namely Canada, China, the United States, South Korea, Argentina, Japan, Brazil, South Africa, the European Union (including Italy, Germany, France), the United Kingdom, and India, with details as shown in the graph.

A different case is found in Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Russia, Mexico, and Indonesia.

According to UNEP data, the projected carbon emissions targeted by Saudi Arabia's NDC are in line with its current policies. However, its per capita carbon emissions are the highest among other G20 countries.

Meanwhile, in Turkey, Russia, Mexico, and Indonesia, instead of decreasing, the per capita carbon emissions targeted by their NDCs are higher than those under current policies.

"Countries projected to meet their NDCs are those that have not updated, strengthened, or only slightly strengthened their NDCs," said UNEP.

"Countries whose projected NDC emissions are higher than current policies require further policy changes and investment to achieve emission reductions," it continued.

Not only the G20, but UNEP also assesses that the targets set in the NDCs of countries worldwide are only capable of reducing global carbon emissions by about 5% to 10%.

However, according to UNEP, global carbon emissions must be reduced by about 45% to curb global warming.

"Large-scale economic transformation is needed to limit global warming to below 2 degrees Celsius, and preferably below 1.5 degrees Celsius. Every degree counts," said UNEP.