G-20 Rome live updates: Biden meets world leaders, Prince Charles pleads for climate action

New Zealand has pledged to reduce its net greenhouse gas emissions by half by 2030, ramping up its green ambitions, its prime minister said in a Sunday announcement ahead of the COP26 global climate summit in Glasgow.

“As a country surrounded by oceans and an economy reliant on our land we are not immune to the impact of climate change, so it’s critical we pull our weight,” Jacinda Ardern said in a statement.

“New Zealand’s enhanced contribution to the global effort to fight climate change now represents our fair share, and is in line with what’s needed if we are to avoid the worst impacts of global warming on New Zealand,” she added.

New Zealand’s previous target was to bring emissions to 30 percent below 2005 levels by 2030.

The 2015 Paris agreement, negotiated by almost 200 countries, committed signatories to keeping global warming to “well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels” and preferably to 1.5 degrees. However, many nations have since struggled to maintain their targets.

New Zealand’s climate minster James Shaw welcomed the news and called this decade “make or break for the planet.” He also said that New Zealand would work with developing countries in the Asia-Pacific region to help them meet their own emissions goals.

However, some climate scientists have been skeptical. “Setting a target is easy. Meeting it is hard,” said Ralph Sims, an emeritus professor of sustainable energy and climate mitigation at New Zealand’s Massey University. Although he and others welcomed the more “ambitious” target, he warned that “the transition to a lower-carbon economy will not be easy.”

President Biden, in a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the sidelines of the Group of 20 summit on Sunday, expressed “concerns” about Turkey’s acquisition of a sophisticated Russian-made air defense system, the White House said.

The Biden-Erdogan sit-down came amid rising tensions with the U.S. ally over threats to expel diplomats, including the U.S. ambassador to Turkey, and Ankara’s possession of the Russian S-400 missile system.

After the meeting, which lasted for roughly an hour, the White House said in a statement that Biden “underscored his desire to maintain constructive relations, expand areas of cooperation, and manage our disagreements effectively.”

In addition to his concerns about Turkey acquiring the Russian defense system, Biden “also emphasized the importance of strong democratic institutions, respect for human rights, and the rule of law for peace and prosperity” with Erdogan, the White House said.

In a brief photo opportunity ahead of the meeting, Biden declined to comment on the substance of his sit-down, telling reporters: “We’re planning to have a good conversation.”

A senior administration official who previewed the meeting to reporters on Saturday said the threats and the weapons systems would be discussed, in addition to issues related to Syria and Libya. Turkey’s desire to acquire American-made F16s will also be discussed, according to the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss delicate diplomatic conversations.

Erdogan recently threatened to expel 10 ambassadors, including from the United States, France, Canada and the Netherlands, because their embassies signed a letter calling for the release of Osman Kavala, a philanthropist and civil society activist. Erdogan backed off the threat after the embassies released statements committing not to interfere in Turkey’s internal affairs.

The U.S. official said that if Erdogan had followed through, the bilateral meeting would have been in jeopardy. “I’m not actually even sure we would have had the meeting if he had gone ahead and expelled,” the official said.

“Certainly, the president will indicate that we need to find a way to avoid crises like that one going forward,” the official said about the threat. “Precipitous action is not going to benefit the U.S.-Turkey partnership and alliance.”

Erdogan said last week that he expected to meet Biden on the sidelines of the climate summit in Glasgow, Scotland, rather than Rome, and that he would discuss issues related to Turkey’s suspension from the international program that builds the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter jet.

The United States removed Turkey from the program in 2019, after Ankara purchased the Russian air defense system, known as the S-400. Turkey has said it is owed $1.4 billion it paid for F-35s it was later blocked from buying.

Despite the recent tension, Biden and Erdogan were seen speaking several times Saturday. The two men chatted as leaders posed for the “family photo” of G-20 principals. Then they were seen huddling with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson just before the opening session of the summit.

Biden also had a “brief” meeting Saturday with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Vice-Chancellor Olaf Scholz, the administration official said. It was an “opportunity” for Biden to speak with Scholz, who is trying to form a government and step in as Merkel’s successor.

Italy’s Prime Minister kicked off the second day of the G-20 summit, devoted to the topic of climate, by laying out out the stakes within his first sentences.

“Dear colleagues,” he began his introductory remarks, “the fight against climate change is the defining challenge of our times.”

He said it was time to “act now” by reorganizing economies and cutting greenhouse gas emissions.

Though the Paris Agreement in 2015 set a target to limit warming to 2 Celsius — while “pursuing efforts to limit it to 1.5″ — Draghi said that aiming for the more ambitious of those two targets was still crucial.

“Some of us are asking why we move our goalpost from 2 degrees to 1.5 degrees. Why? Because science says so,” Draghi said.

Scientists have said that limiting warming to the 1.5 Celsius mark, compared to preindustrial levels, is crucial to avoiding many catastrophic consequences of climate change. But a United Nations climate report from August suggested the world could hit the 1.5 degrees Celsius threshold in a decade.

“The shift to clean energy is key to achieving the necessary reductions in greenhouse gas emissions,” he said. “We can no longer postpone it.”

The morning session for Sunday was set to focus specifically on the role of the private sector in the fight against climate change, with the idea that any wholesale makeover of the global economy — driven by decarbonization — would also require vast private funding. Later in the day the leaders will also discuss climate change more broadly.

Because G-20 countries account for around 80 percent of global emissions, the summit in Rome has the chance create or thwart momentum for the conference in COP26 climate conference in Glasgow, where many of the leaders will be traveling next.

ROME – Secretary of State Antony Blinken met for an hour Sunday morning with his Chinese counterpart Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, holding what a U.S. official described as a “candid” conversation that touched on tensions over Taiwan, developments in Afghanistan and climate policy.

The U.S. official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to reveal the contents of diplomatic talks, charactered the meeting as a “rare, valuable” opportunity to hold a high-level conversation in person. Blinken sought to convey that increased competition with China will require increased diplomacy, the official said. He also conveyed a desire to manage what the U.S. official described as a “intensely competitive” relationship, the official said.

During the meeting Blinken reiterated that U.S. foreign policy toward Taiwan has not changed making it “crystal clear” that the U.S. continues to abide by a One China policy, according to the U.S. official. America has followed a policy of so-called strategic ambiguity toward the island which the Chinese see as part of their territory. President Biden recently injected some uncertainty to whether the policy is changing by answering “yes” when asked if he would vow to protect the country.

The official said the conversation was less contentious that some of the earlier sit downs between U.S. and Chinese top officials. It was similar in tone to a meeting between National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and China’s top diplomat Yang Jiechi held occurred in Zurich in early October, the official said.

The meeting was in part to help plan an upcoming virtual summit between Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jingpin, the official said. Other topics discussed included the U.S. desire for the Chinese to “fulfill its obligations” on climate and help reduce emissions, the official said. They also touched on Burma, Iran and North Korea, the official said.

The diplomats did not discuss the recent Chinese test of a hypersonic missile, the official said.

SYDNEY — Britain’s climate change adviser slammed a last-minute commitment by Australia ahead of the United Nations climate summit in Glasgow to achieve “net zero” emissions by 2050, saying it lacks the action items needed to deliver on that pledge.

Most countries are beginning to recognize “just how serious climate change is,” John Gummer, the U.K. Climate Change Committee chair, said Saturday, citing the renewed determination of the United States under President Biden and programs by Japan and South Korea to achieve the 2050 target.

“Not all leaders are like that,” Gummer, known as Lord Deben, told a BBC panel. “I’m afraid that if you look at Scott Morrison from Australia, we’ve squeezed out of him a commitment to net zero in 2050, but there’s no indication at the moment that he’s got a proper program for that.”

The plan unveiled by the Australian government last week didn’t set any tougher emissions targets for 2030 — a major component of what scientists have said will be needed from world leaders at the upcoming COP26 climate summit in Glasgow, Scotland. It promised jobs but no new taxes or mandates, and relies largely on future technology “breakthroughs” to meet the target.

Australia is one of the highest per-capita carbon emitters, and one of the world’s largest fossil fuel exporters. It is also is on the front lines of climate change, with soaring temperatures, droughts and wildfires sweeping the country in recent years.

Sometimes events like the G-20, contained in locked-down convention centers, can almost feel like they’re taking place in a sterile micro-nation. But Sunday morning, before beginning the second and final day of summit talks, some of the leaders took the occasion to briefly play Roman tourist.

They went to Trevi Fountain, a Baroque masterpiece that’s one of the must-see spots for most visitors — and for good reason. It’s been a backdrop in movies like Federico Fellini’s “La Dolce Vita.” It was spruced up a few years ago in renovations. It’s a dazzling place — at least in the rare moment when it isn’t mobbed by people jostling for space to take photos.

But Sunday morning, Trevi Fountain — the middle of Rome’s historic center — was completely blocked off. The only noises were the sound of falling water and helicopters circling overhead. The official G-20 agenda called this activity a passeggiata — a leisurely stroll — but it didn’t look like the leaders had walked very far. They emerged from a side street and walked directly down to the fountain.

Only some of the G-20 leaders were there, and President Biden was among those missing.

At the fountain, they turned their backs to the water, as is the tradition, and flung coins into the water. Then, they gazed back at the fountain. For just a second, a little look of awe came over the face of outgoing German Chancellor Angela Merkel. With a sort of what-the-heck expression, she stuck her hand in the water.

Then it was time to go.

Only one or two of the leaders had taken photos.

GLASGOW — Greta Thunberg may not have been officially invited to the landmark COP26 climate summit in Glasgow, but on the first official day of the conference, she was making her presence known.

The Swedish teenager, who is something of a rock star for climate activists around the world, was quickly surrounded by about a hundred people when she arrived at the Glasgow train station Saturday evening. Several police officers escorted her away from the throng.

“Finally in Glasgow for the COP26! And thank you for the very warm welcome,” tweeted the 18-year-old who included a picture of her giving a thumbs-up to the assembled crowd. Scotland’s Sunday Mail newspaper dubbed the scene: “Greta Mania.”

Rich countries are three years behind schedule in fulfilling their goal of providing $100 billion annually to help developing nations curb their greenhouse gas emissions and address climate change, according to a report from the Canadian and German governments.

The failure of rich countries to meet the goal has fed mistrust among developing nations, which historically have done less to fuel climate change but are disproportionately vulnerable to its consequences.

The issue is expected to come up for discussion at the G-20 summit on Sunday and to be a major sticking point at the COP26 climate conference, where slowing the world’s warming will depend on good faith and collective action. Many developing nations have said their climate pledges are conditional on receiving outside support.

Mohamed Adow, director of Power Shift Africa, a Nairobi-based think tank, said the inability of rich countries to keep their promise is “utterly shameful.”

“Poor nations will not be conned,” he said, “and the leaders of the developed world need to pull their finger out and get this money on the table if COP26 is going to be a success.”

Eddy Pérez, international climate diplomacy manager for Climate Action Network Canada, said that while the “level of honesty” from rich countries about missing their collective target is welcome, the gap is “unacceptable.”

“The question today is: Does this document actually show the urgency that it is for rich countries to massively scale up climate finance flows during the COP … and the clear answer is no,” he said. “The message that is coming from this document is you need to wait until 2023 to see if we will be able to deliver the $100 billion.”

The report doesn’t name and shame individual countries but says that “all developed countries have to step up efforts.”

Marshaling the funding has been complicated by debates about whether the aid should take the form of loans or grants. Determining how much has been mobilized has been difficult because of a lack of uniformity in how countries account for climate finance.

An analysis last month from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development found that developed nations contributed $79.6 billion in 2019 — up 2 percent from 2018, but $20 billion short of the promise. Final totals for 2020 aren’t yet available, but officials said it was becoming clear the goal hadn’t been met. The OECD estimates funding ranging from $83 billion to $88 billion this year.

President Biden announced last month at the U.N. General Assembly that he would work with Congress to double U.S. funding provided each year to help low-income nations combat climate change to $11.4 billion by 2024.