Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt – Yeb Sano, Executive Director, Greenpeace Southeast Asia and Head of the Greenpeace delegation attending the COP said:

“From Bali to Sharm El Sheik, G20 to COP27, the climate action signal is weak. Luxury resort hopping world leaders, some of whom stood at the podium of both, have failed to rise to the challenge of providing either climate leadership or climate justice.

“Long on rhetoric and short on instruction, G20 leaders in Bali could have closed the gap between the urgent needs of world’s most climate vulnerable communities and countries and the actions of the richest and most polluting. They chose not to.

“G20 Communique reaffirmed the 1.5C goal but fell short of making any progress in signaling for the needed just energy transition and fossil fuel phase out.

“We need leaders who can chew gum and walk at the same time, leaders who can address the acute energy and security crises of today’s world whilst taking urgent action to avert chronic climate catastrophe tomorrow.

“Billed as the Africa COP, the nearly 200 countries represented speak for the interests of the many, it is now up to them to take leadership here in Sharm El Sheik to ensure climate justice is served for people and the planet.

“G20 countries went to the COP in Egypt and put on a performance before getting down to the serious business of business as usual politics in Bali. It is time they accepted that you can either protect the fossil-fuelled macroeconomic model or the planet, for only one of which we have alternatives. It is time they woke up and smelt the loss and damage!”

Leonard Simanjuntak, Country Director of Greenpeace Indonesia said:

“The weak and disappointing results of the G20 Summit reflects the hypocrisy that has coloured the conversations in this forum from the beginning. Too much involvement of fossil fuel giants in different stages of the road to this summit have made it difficult for the Presidency and other members to agree on bold decisions and commitments for the 1.5 degree target. Indonesia has used its Presidency to focus too much on cementing the JET-P agreement, but not doing enough to lead this biggest carbon emitter club to commit to more ambitious climate targets.”

ENDS

Greenpeace has a delegation in Egypt with representatives available for comment.
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