The first G20 Energy Transitions Working Group (ETWG) meeting under India’s presidency, with over 150 participants, including G20 member countries, nine special invitee guest countries – Bangladesh, Egypt, Mauritius, Netherlands, Nigeria, Oman, Singapore, UAE and Spain - was held in Bengaluru today. The meeting was aimed at sharing, collaborating and building on the sense of trusteeship amongst the member countries to help build a sustainable future for all.
The priority areas of ETWG meeting, included:
- Energy Transition through Addressing Technology Gaps;
- Low-cost Financing for Energy Transition;
- Energy Security and Diversified Supply Chains;
- Energy Efficiency, Industrial Low Carbon Transitions and Responsible Consumption; and
- Fuels for Future (3F) and Universal Access to Clean Energy and Just, Affordable, and Inclusive Energy Transition Pathways.
The Energy Transitions Working Group while retaining focus on achieving energy transition, will emphasise on addressing technology gaps and financing to ensure that it is delivered across countries in a time-bound and affordable manner without compromising the energy needs of the communities.
The expected outcomes of the deliberations would include agreement to advance cooperation initiatives under Research and Development-20 roadmap for channelising adequate low-cost international finance towards deployment of critical technologies, declaration on collective efforts to ensure energy security and diversified supply chains of new energy sources, roadmap for doubling global rate of improvement in energy efficiency by 2030, action plan for enhancing and promoting bio-energy cooperation, and recommendations on global best practices for supporting just, affordable, and inclusive energy transitions.
On the sidelines, a high-level international seminar on ‘Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage (CCUS)’ has been organised. The seminar focused on highlighting the importance of carbon capture, utilisation, and storage, considered vital for achieving net-zero targets.
As part of the first ETWG meeting, delegates also visited Infosys Green Building Campus and Pavagada Solar Park to see first-hand India’s push towards renewable sector and efforts to mitigate climate change.