New Report Highlights Shortcomings in G20 Climate Pledges
A recent Insight Report released by The State of Carbon Dioxide Removal reveals that many G20 nations are not living up to their commitments to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. This study was unveiled ahead of the COP30 United Nations climate summit.
The State of Carbon Dioxide Removal is a joint effort by scientific bodies from Europe and the U.S., including the University of Wisconsin-Madison. One of the report’s authors, Greg Nemet, a professor at UW-Madison’s La Follette School of Public Affairs, emphasized the need for countries to scale up carbon removal technologies to meet climate objectives.
Nemet highlighted the importance of carbon dioxide removal alongside emission reductions, stating, “The main pollutant for climate change, carbon dioxide, stays in the air for centuries.” He further explained on WPR’s “Wisconsin Today,” that reducing emissions alone is insufficient, necessitating actions to remove existing carbon dioxide.
The report criticizes many leading and developing nations for missing deadlines and setting unconvincing targets for atmospheric carbon removal. As of September, only seven G20 members, including Australia, Brazil, and the United States, have updated their climate pledges for 2035, initially due in February. Countries like China, India, and the European Union are among those that failed to meet the deadline.
Furthermore, most G20 nations have not specified their carbon dioxide removal targets for 2030 or 2035. Only a few have included measurable objectives. Morgan Edwards, another report author from UW-Madison, stressed the significance of transparency in a press release: “Consistent, transparent reporting is essential for turning climate pledges into real progress.”
In line with the 2015 Paris Agreement, countries have pledged to limit global temperature rise to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. Carbon removal can occur naturally, such as through afforestation and soil health improvement, or through technologies like bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS).
The United Kingdom stands out as the only G20 nation to actively measure and implement carbon removal strategies. Nemet noted the UK’s transformation from a “petrol state” to a climate-conscious nation, citing the 2008 Climate Change Act and the recent shutdown of its last coal plant as examples.
