April 30th 2024.
The energy and environment ministers of the G7, a group of seven influential industrialized nations, have come together to announce a significant decision on Tuesday. They have committed to phasing out the use of coal as a source of power by 2035. This is a groundbreaking move as it marks the first time the G7 has explicitly mentioned such a phase-out, showing a strong stance against the use of coal. However, they have also recognized the need for flexibility for countries that heavily rely on coal.
The final communique, which was released after the meeting in Turin, Italy, included specific language that allows for an extension of the 2035 deadline if it is necessary to limit the rise in global temperatures to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. Gilberto Picchetto Fratin, Italy's environment and energy security minister, highlighted the importance of targeting coal as it is responsible for the majority of emissions.
This decision by the G7 countries sets a timeline for their commitments made at the COP 28 conference in Dubai last year. During the conference, they had agreed to accelerate the phase-down of unabated coal power, which refers to power plants that do not capture their emissions. Picchetto Fratin expressed his satisfaction with this development, stating that it is the first time a clear pathway and goal have been established.
Despite this progress, environmental campaigners have pointed out that the commitment falls short of the recommendations made by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the International Energy Agency. These organizations suggest that the G7 nations should decarbonize their power sectors by 2035, which would require phasing out coal by 2030 and gas power by 2035. The Beyond Fossils Fuel campaign has criticized the vagueness of the coal phase-out commitment, implying that it was done to convince Japan to make a firm commitment to exit coal.
It is worth noting that Japan is the only G7 country that has not set a date for phasing out coal. On the other hand, countries like Britain, France, Italy, and Canada have already pledged to phase out coal by 2030 at the latest, while the United States and Germany are making significant strides towards this goal. Pieter de Pous, program lead at E3G's Coal to Clean program, emphasized the need for G7 ministers to lead by example and align their commitments with the reality of the climate crisis. Claire Smith from Beyond Fossil Fuels also echoed this sentiment, urging the G7 countries to take urgent action in the face of the pressing issue of climate change.
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