Brussels, 30/05/2016 (Agence Europe) - The G7 summit, in Ise- Shima (Japan) last week, made a commitment to taking all the necessary measures to ensure ratification of the Paris Agreement, “as soon as possible”. It also called on all the different parties to “strive for a goal of entry into force” of this agreement in 2016.
This is all very well and good but it is not enough, said the NGOs, which were expecting far more from the most powerful economies in the world (Canada, France Germany, Italy, Japan, United Kingdom and US).
In their joint statement adopted on Friday 27 May, G7 leaders also made a commitment to the swift and robust implementation of their intended nationally determined contributions) to help promote an upward revision of the goals in the agreed timeframe and actively participate in the regular examination of the progress accomplished by all the different countries every five years.
According to Greenpeace, this press release does not reflect the urgency of the climate crisis or the tangible impetus at a global level since the conclusion of the historic Paris Agreement (see EUROPE 11560). Jennifer Morgan, Executive Director of Greenpeace International, said: “We're glad to see the G7 support for ratification of the Paris Agreement this year, but we expected a more ambitious response to the climate crisis, with specific details of how and when G7 leaders themselves intend to act”. The NGO regretted the fact that “Japan has held back the rest of the G7 from the action the Paris Agreement requires”.
Last year, the G7 meeting in Elmau ahead of the COP21 displayed “courage” by making a commitment to assuming its share of the decarbonisation objectives in the global economy this century, whilst seeking to transform the energy sectors by 2050, so that they respect the maximum 2°C target for average temperature increases (see EUROPE 11330).
By doing this, Greenpeace believes that the G7 “sent an important signal to global investors and the fossil fuel industry that the transformation is underway and full decarbonisation is inevitable”. The first assessment of climate commitments from all the different countries will take place in 2018. In a press release, Morgan said: “We challenge the G7 to produce plans for a transition to 100% renewable energy by then”. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)