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Sustainable Futures

Blog Header: Sustainable Futures. Debates to shape a collaborative multipolar world

  • B20, C20 and T20: Joint Statement for a sustainable energy transition

    Network and data exchange over planet earth in space

    The Chairs of the Energy and Climate Task Forces of the Think20, together with Business20 and Civil20, published a Joint Statement to support a sustainable energy transition. On the occasion of the meeting of the G20 Energy and Climate Sustainability Working Groups on 22 and 23 March in Berlin, the Engagement Groups call on the G20 to step up and adopt three main provisions: First, the G20 should take the lead in implementing the Paris Agreement. Second, the G20 should drive towards carbon pricing mechanisms and agree on a time line for phasing-out fossil fuel subsidies. Third, the G20 should enable financial markets to deliver on sustainable development.

    Please read the full statement here

  • Recommendations on Global Energy Governance and the G20

    Photo: Windpower
    shifting towards low-carbon technologies

    As the G20 Working Groups on Sustainability, Energy and Climate are preparing to meet later this week, it is well worth reminding ourselves of the importance of the upcoming G20 summit in Hamburg for global energy governance. It is the first G20 summit since President Trump was elected on a pro-fossil fuels, climate-skeptic, and protectionist/nationalist agenda. It is also the first G20 summit since the Paris Agreement entered into force on 4 November 2016, a legally binding agreement to keep global warming ‘well below 2°C’, ratified by all G20 members except Russia and Turkey.

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  • Welche Rolle soll künftig die technische Zusammenarbeit in der deutschen Entwicklungszusammenarbeit spielen?

    Die Entwicklungszusammenarbeit (EZ) ist mit weitreichenden globalen Herausforderungen konfrontiert: Der Klimawandel, soziale Ungleichheit, die Krisenanfälligkeit der Weltwirtschaft sowie Krisen und gewaltsame Konflikte gefährden eine nachhaltige Entwicklung in einer zunehmend interdependenten Welt.

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  • The Baden Baden communique demurs on historical lessons of free trade

    Photo: Containerschiff
    Promoting free trade and investment

    Unlike the statement made by the G20 Finance Ministers last year, which asked members to resist “all forms” of trade protectionism, the communique released at this weekend’s G20 meeting in Baden Baden contains no such statement, nor does it refer to a commitment to a multilateral trading system. While there is no need to rush to any judgement, as we wait to see the final communique from the G20 leader’s summit in July this year, it may be useful to reflect on some of the lessons learnt about the role of free trade.

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  • Ending Global Poverty: An Attainable Goal

    Image: Favella
    Ending poverty is not impossible

    We and millions of European and other ‘Western’ citizens are living in times of abundant pessimism and turbulence, dominated by social discontent, uncertainty over the future, and rising populism.

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