The Group of Seven Wealthy Nations may lead the way in ending the use of coal, a highly polluting fossil fuel that is responsible for much of global greenhouse gas emissions, says Climate Minister ‘Germany.
Key points:
- The G7 includes Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States
- Germany says action against climate change can be accelerated by removing energy from coal
- Nations risk climate targets struggling to secure new sources of natural gas to offset Russia’s supply shortfalls
Senior officials from G7 countries are holding a three-day meeting in Berlin during which they will seek to agree on common goals for switching from fossil fuels to renewable energy that scientists say is urgent to curb climate change.
German Energy and Climate Minister Robert Habeck said on Thursday that G7 countries could accelerate a turn away from fossil fuels by agreeing to phase out coal-fired power generation.
“The G-7 … may play a pioneering role in moving forward to end the use of coal for electricity and to decarbonize the transportation system,” he said.
Habeck said the issue could be moved to the G-7 leaders’ summit in Elmau, Germany, next month and then to the Group of 20 Leading and Emerging Economies meeting later this year.
Getting the G20 countries to adhere to the ambitious goals set by some of the most advanced economies will be key, as countries such as China, India and Indonesia continue to be heavily dependent on coal.
A draft statement, seen by Reuters before the May 25-27 talks, showed that the G7 would consider committing to phasing out coal by 2030, although sources suggested that the opposition of the United States and Japan could derail this promise. .
The draft, which could change considerably when talks conclude on Friday, would also pledge G7 countries to have a “zero net electricity sector by 2035” and to begin publicly reporting next year on how they are fulfilling their G7 commitment. ‘end the past. “inefficient” fossil fuel subsidies by 2025.
Germany says it is making progress in weaning off Russian fossil fuels. (AP: Martin Meissner)
The spiral of energy costs and concerns about the supply of fuel caused by the war in Ukraine
The war in Ukraine has led some countries to buy more non-Russian fossil fuels and burn coal to reduce their dependence on Russian supplies, raising fears that the crisis could undermine efforts to combat climate change.
But Habeck said it would be wrong to see countries’ efforts to deal with the current energy crisis as a way to counter efforts to end fossil fuel use.
“What we are seeing right now is an acceleration of ecological transformation,” he said.
He said finding alternative fossil fuels would not be at the expense of environmental goals and that, instead, energy emergencies and high inflation should be the “first step to getting out of fossil fuel energy quickly.”
There would be intense debate this week about how the G7 could take on the role of “pioneering a way out of coal-fired power generation” and into decarbonisation, Habeck said.
Environmental groups have warned that countries such as Germany run the risk of undermining their ecological goals by struggling to secure new sources of natural gas, including the United States, to make up for Russia’s supply deficit.
The Berlin meeting will also seek to reach agreements on boosting financial aid to poor countries to tackle climate change, additional funding for biodiversity, protection of the oceans and reduction of plastic pollution.
Wires