Spain’s Sanchez at G-20 says not to use war as excuse to fail on climate goals

By Alyssa McMurtry

OVIEDO, Spain (AA) - Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez asked leaders at the G-20 summit on Tuesday not to use the war in Ukraine as an excuse to backtrack on climate change commitments.

“If we don’t cut emissions faster, we’ll end up spending much more or even running out of time. We must act now,” said Sanchez.

At the G-20’s inaugural session in Indonesia, which centered on energy and food security, Sanchez insisted that shifting to green energy can help societies overcome both of those “devastating” problems.

Sanchez highlighted Spain’s commitment to renewable energy and its nearly $1.9 billion pledge to the IMF’s new Resilience and Sustainability Trust.

The Socialist leader also asked countries to agree on a “more ambitious” initiative to suspend debt for countries facing food insecurity.

“The G20 was created to address global challenges in turbulent times … let’s live up to those expectations,” he urged leaders.

Sanchez also implored Russia to end its “brutal and unjustified aggression against Ukraine” immediately.

“The world simply can’t afford it,” he said, adding that soaring food and energy prices have put the well-being of millions of households at risk.

The Spanish leader will also hold a bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping later on Tuesday.

Sanchez is expected to ask Xi to use his influence to pressure Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the war in Ukraine, which began in February.