G20

The G20 (Group of Twenty) is a forum for the world’s largest economies. The G20 have about 85% of the world’s electricity demand and production between them, and an even bigger share of global coal generation. Most have begun building wind and/or solar power at scale. Russia (61%), Indonesia (87% fossil) and Saudi Arabia (99% fossil) are most behind, but they all have huge clean power potential. 

Many G20 countries generate more than half their electricity from fossil fuels. South Africa, India, Indonesia and China each get over 60% of their electricity from coal alone. 

G20 countries with more than 60% clean power mixes are France (nuclear), Brazil and Canada (hydro) and the UK and Germany (wind and solar).

The task to keep to 1.5 degrees is massive: 100% clean power by 2035 for OECD countries within the G20 and for all other countries by 2040. 

There is hope that the G20 can build off the success of the G7 in pushing for rapid electricity decarbonisation, following up on the coal phasedown pledge from COP26, and under the leadership of Indonesia who surprised everyone in 2021 by pledging to pivot from coal to clean electricity. However the Russian invasion of Ukraine makes current G20 diplomacy difficult.

Last updated: March 2022