Climate, COVID and the economy top G20 agenda at Rome summit

FILE PHOTO: British Prime Minister Boris Johnson meets with fundraisers from the Royal British Legion outside Number 10 Downing Street in London, Britain October 29, 2021. REUTERS/Tom Nicholson/File Photo

ROME (Reuters) -The heads of the world's 20 biggest economies kicked off two days of talks on Saturday where they were set to acknowledge the existential threat of climate change, but stop short of radical new commitments to tame global warming.

A draft communique seen by Reuters shows major countries are only likely to slightly toughen their pledges on climate action, while failing to set tough new targets that activists say are vital to prevent environmental catastrophe.