G77

Representing 80% of the world's population, the G77 is the largest alliance within the United Nations. The group's goals are based on preserving the independence and sovereignty of developing countries and creating a level playing field in the global marketplace.         

The G77 is supportive of the goals set out in the Paris Agreement and the Kyoto Protocol, which is not surprising given that several of its members are highly vulnerable to climate change.[1] Moreover, their populations are vulnerable to climate change due to lower levels of prosperity.

However, the G77 is dependent on the more developed countries to be able to change. This dilemma is often presented by representatives at COP meetings. The group often calls on developed countries to honor financial agreements and invest more in the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy. Apart from their dependence on the developed countries, the G77 emphasized the idea of "common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities" of countries, based on their historical share of climate pollution. They therefore believe that developed countries should take the lead on the path to zero emission by 2050. Unless their capabilities are limited, the group can be seen as a motivator for change.

           

Unless the group is made up of weaker economies, much of the critical minerals needed for the energy transition are owned by G77 members. For example, the Democratic Republic of Congo is the world's top producer of cobalt, and Chile is the European Union's main supplier of lithium, accounting for 79% of its supply.[4] The group wants developing countries to benefit greatly from the export of these materials. Perhaps their economies will grow more than ever as a result of the energy transition.  

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