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US and India lead G20 in climate progress but challenges remain

The U.S. and India have made the most strides in reducing emissions among G20 nations since the 2016 Paris Agreement, yet global temperatures are still projected to rise significantly.

Jonathan Watts reports for The Guardian.


In short:

  • G20 nations' policies since 2015 could reduce CO2 emissions by 6.9 gigatons by 2030, but this falls short of Paris Agreement targets.
  • The US leads in projected reductions, driven by Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, but this progress is threatened by Trump’s potential policy rollbacks.
  • Despite renewable energy growth, global emissions are on track to push temperatures up by 2.7°C by 2100, risking catastrophic impacts.

Key quote:

“This is nothing to brush off. This is a major improvement in the group of countries covering more than 80% of global emissions.”

— Leonardo Nascimento, analyst at Climate Action Tracker

Why this matters:

A 2.7°C rise would intensify extreme weather, economic disruptions and global inequality. Political shifts in major emitters like the US could derail progress, making international unity and renewable investments crucial.

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