Indonesia Calls for More G20 Action on Climate Change

China –- the world's biggest emitter of greenhouse gases –- only sent a vice minister of ecology and environment to the meeting, according to a list seen by AFP, with high-level officials staying home because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

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The meeting is a prelude to a November leaders' summit where Indonesian President Joko Widodo has said Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin would attend despite Moscow's increasing isolation after invading Ukraine.

Britain blamed Russia's military assault on its neighbor for exacerbating energy problems.

Sharma said the energy crisis sparked by the war showed "the vulnerability of countries relying on fossil fuels controlled by hostile actors" and that "climate security has become synonymous" with energy security.

Russia only sent a deputy minister for economic development in person to the talks, according to the list of attendees.

The United Nations' next climate change talks will take place in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt in November.

Source: Agence France-Presse