Johnson UK Prime Minister: "G20 Summit Achievements Are 'Drop in the Ocean' Level and Insignificant"

[Photo by AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Byung-hee] British Prime Minister Boris Johnson expressed disappointment with the outcome of the Group of Twenty (G20) summit, describing the achievements on climate change measures as "a drop in the ocean."

According to Bloomberg, Prime Minister Johnson said at a press conference after the G20 summit on the 31st of last month (local time), "The agreements reached by the G20 on climate change measures are minimal, like a drop in the ocean," adding, "If urgent measures are not taken, there is a high risk that the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) will also fail."

The G20 summit, where climate change and supply chain measures were discussed, was held in Rome, Italy, from the 30th to the 31st of last month. The UK will soon host COP26 as the chair country to discuss climate change measures. COP26 opened on the closing day of the G20 summit, the 31st of last month, and is scheduled to be held in Glasgow, Scotland, until the 12th of this month.

Prime Minister Johnson pointed out, "If COP26 fails, everything fails," emphasizing, "First, the Paris Agreement will collapse, and the only practical means to address climate change will sink beneath the surface."

Johnson acknowledged recent achievements such as Saudi Arabia, Australia, and Russia announcing carbon neutrality plans, the United States doubling its support for carbon neutrality, and the G20 agreeing to halt investments in coal power plants, but said these alone are not enough.

He also expressed regret, saying, "Only 12 of the G20 countries have pledged to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 or earlier," and "Since the 2015 Paris Agreement, only about half have barely improved their carbon reduction plans."

Johnson criticized, "The G20 countries have always been the largest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions but have not played their rightful role in reducing carbon emissions," and stressed, "Change is necessary to prevent the failure of COP26."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.