At the joint ministerial meeting of the G7 Environment, Energy and Climate Ministers on 15-16 April in Sapporo, Japan, the seven countries agreed on new joint targets for solar energy, offshore wind and the permanent phase-out of fossil fuels. They did, however, mention the role of nuclear and natural gas in promoting energy independence and failed to agree on a date for phasing out coal for electricity generation.
Development of renewable energies
The G7 has committed to significantly increasing electricity generation from renewable energy sources, such as offshore wind and solar, by 2030.
Specifically, the G7 ministers pledged to collectively produce an additional 150 gigawatts of offshore wind power “based on each country’s existing targets” and to increase solar panel capacity to more than one terawatt.
Phasing out fossil fuels
The G7 Ministers then committed to accelerating the phase-out of fossil fuels in all sectors in order to achieve an electricity sector in the “majority” decarbonised by 2035.
However, an important nuance has been introduced. It was clarified that this would only apply to fossil fuels that do not have CCS in order to maintain openness towards this still developing technology.
“[This technology] can be an important part of a broad portfolio of decarbonisation solutions to achieve net zero emissions by 2050”, the statement said.
No phase-out date for coal
Although G7 members reaffirmed their commitment to achieving a “completely or predominantly decarbonised energy sector by 2035” and to meeting the Paris Agreement target of limiting global warming to 1.5°C, the final communiqué, which recognises the need for no new coal-fired power plants, does not contain a specific commitment to a date for phasing out coal in the electricity sector, as some member countries had called for.
The role of nuclear power in decarbonisation
The meeting also included discussions on nuclear energy and its role in achieving energy independence and combating climate change in a special forum organised by the Japanese Presidency.
In this context, pro-nuclear countries, such as France, have communicated their position and the choice of nuclear power in their national energy policy.
“In the European Union, there are now 14 countries who want nuclear technologies to be taken into account to build an effective energy strategy transition”, said the French Minister for Energy Transition, Agnès Pannier-Runacher.
She also emphasised aid and support to several countries still dependent on Russian nuclear power.
As Germany shut down its last three nuclear reactors on Saturday 15 April, German Economy Minister Robert Habeck officially called for the extension of EU sanctions on Russian nuclear power and said he wanted to put in place “transition periods”.
“So far, oil, gas and coal have been sanctioned, but not nuclear fuel and technology” said Sven Giegold, State Secretary in the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, on Twitter.
Continued investment in gas
Regarding natural gas consumption, Japan has expressed its intention to maintain liquefied natural gas as a transitional fuel for at least 10 to 15 years, despite criticism from several environmental interest groups (see EUROPE 13162/3).
The G7 communiqué is in line with Japanese energy policy, as it recognises that “investment in the gas sector can be appropriate to help address potential market shortfalls provoked by the crisis, subject to clearly defined national circumstances”.
To see the G7 press release: https://aeur.eu/f/6ce (Original version in French by Nithya Paquiry and Pauline Denys)