“Complete uncertainty” on climate ahead of G20 summit – German official

The German government wants to build on last year’s G20 final declaration regarding climate provisions, but the outcome of negotiations ahead of – and on the days of – the summit in Argentina this week is unclear, said a German government official in Berlin. “We’re trying to get certain statements into [a final communiqué], but it is completely uncertain whether this will succeed,” said the official. He added that it’s a “difficult time for multilateralism”, on which the meeting of the Group of Twenty is build. “This year, it’s especially hard to find consensus,” said the official. As a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council in the coming two years, Germany has a higher responsibility for political issues of the international community, said another official.

For background, read the CLEW articles Isolating Trump, 19 G20-members say Paris climate deal "irreversible,"  and Merkel calls for honouring Paris Agreement as climate action at home falters.