G20 Faces Opposition from Russia and Saudi Arabia on Green Energy Expansion

Russia, Saudi Arabia, China, South Africa, and Indonesia have opposed a proposal to triple G20 countries' renewable energy capacity by 2030. The renewable targets, proposed by the G7 countries, were met with resistance from major fossil fuel producers who argued that natural gas is a critical part of their energy mix. Additionally, there was disagreement over the use of the term "green hydrogen" versus "low-carbon hydrogen." The meeting also saw tensions rise over the war in Ukraine, with Russia raising the issue of attacks on the Nord Stream gas pipeline. As a result of the lack of consensus, it is unlikely that a joint statement will be produced at the end of the meeting.