Looking to the G20 for climate leadership

The document calls for G20 leadership in the climate transition, noting that these economies produce 80% of global carbon emissions. It argues that climate action is essential for long-term economic prosperity, citing risks of GDP loss and the high cost of inaction compared to the cost of current investment. The authors urge G20 members to meet the March 2015 timeline for emission reduction commitments ahead of the Paris treaty.

• The G20 nations are responsible for 80 per cent of global carbon emissions and possess the economic influence necessary to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy.
• Climate change is presented as a major economic risk; the IPCC warns of a potential loss of over two percent of the global economy by 2050, while pollution in China was linked to a GDP loss of up to 13 per cent in 2010.
• The authors argue that the cost of immediate climate action is significantly lower than the eventual costs of damage and loss, citing New York's Hurricane Sandy clean-up cost of $50 billion versus a $20 billion investment in climate-proofed infrastructure.
• The Marshall Islands and the Gambia intend to propose emission reduction commitments by March 2015 and expect all G20 members to adhere to the same timeline before the global climate treaty in Paris.

APA

de Brum, T., & Jarju, P. O. (n.d.). Looking to the G20 for climate leadership. Climate and Development Knowledge Network. https://cdkn.org/story/opinion-looking-g20-climate-leadership

Chicago

de Brum, Tony, and Pa Ousman Jarju. Looking to the G20 for climate leadership. Climate and Development Knowledge Network, n.d. https://cdkn.org/story/opinion-looking-g20-climate-leadership.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=de Brum |first1=Tony |last2=Jarju |first2=Pa Ousman |title=Looking to the G20 for climate leadership |publisher=Climate and Development Knowledge Network |url=https://cdkn.org/story/opinion-looking-g20-climate-leadership |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{debrumndlooking, author = {de Brum, Tony and Jarju, Pa Ousman}, title = {{Looking to the G20 for climate leadership}}, publisher = {Climate and Development Knowledge Network}, url = {https://cdkn.org/story/opinion-looking-g20-climate-leadership}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }