Extract from ABC News
Posted
The Group of Seven wealthy nations can lead the way on ending the use of coal, a heavily polluting fossil fuel that is responsible for a large chunk of global greenhouse gas emissions, Germany's Climate Minister says.
Key points:
- The G7 comprises Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK and the United States
- Germany says action on climate change can be sped up by phasing out coal power
- Nations are risking their climate goals by scrambling to secure new sources of natural gas to make up for shortfalls in supplies from Russia
Senior officials from the G7 countries are holding a three-day meeting in Berlin during which they will seek to agree on common targets for the shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy that scientists say is urgently needed to curb climate change.
German Energy and Climate Minister Robert Habeck said on Thursday the G7 countries could accelerate a pivot away from fossil fuels by agreeing to phase out coal power generation.
"The G-7 … can perhaps take on a certain pioneering role to push forward ending the use of coal for electricity and in decarbonising the transport system," he said.
Mr Habeck said the issue could be carried forward to the G-7 leaders summit in Elmau, Germany, next month and then to the meeting of the Group of 20 leading and emerging economies later this year.
Getting G20 countries to sign on to the ambitious targets set by some of the most advanced economies will be key, as countries such as China, India and Indonesia remain heavily reliant on coal.
A draft communique, seen by Reuters news agency ahead of the May 25-27 talks, showed the G7 would consider committing to a phase-out of coal by 2030, though sources suggested that opposition from the United States and Japan could derail such a pledge.
The draft, which could change considerably by the time talks conclude on Friday, would also commit G7 countries to have a "net zero electricity sector by 2035" and to start reporting publicly next year on how they are delivering on a past G7 commitment to end "inefficient" fossil fuel subsidies by 2025.
Spiralling energy costs and fuel supply worries sparked by war in Ukraine
The war in Ukraine has prompted some countries to buy more non-Russian fossil fuels and burn coal to cut their reliance on Russian supplies, raising fears the crisis could undermine efforts to fight climate change.
But Mr Habeck said it would be wrong to view the efforts countries were making to tackle the current energy crisis as countering efforts to end fossil fuel use.
"What we are seeing at the moment is an acceleration of the ecological transformation," he said.
He said finding alternative fossil fuels would not come at the expense of environmental goals and that instead, the energy emergency and high inflation should be the "first step to quickly exit fossil fuel energy altogether".
There would be intensive discussions this week on how the G7 could take on the role as a "pioneer to bring about an exit from coal power generation" and in decarbonisation, Mr Habeck said.
Environmental groups have warned countries such as Germany risk undermining their green goals by scrambling to secure new sources of natural gas — including from the United States — to make up for the shortfall in supplies from Russia.
The meeting in Berlin will also seek to reach agreements on boosting financial aid for poor countries to cope with climate change, additional funds for biodiversity, protecting oceans and reducing plastic pollution.
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