The ministers of the G7 countries (Italy, Japan, Canada, the United States, Germany, France and the United Kingdom) meeting in Turin, Italy, on Monday 29 and Tuesday 30 April, set a date for phasing out the burning of coal for the very first time.
The phasing out of their coal-fired power stations without carbon capture devices has been set for the first half of the 2030s.
“For the very first time, our document uses a deadline [...] In other words, this means, G7 countries undertake to phase out the use of coal, without jeopardising the various country’s economic and social equilibrium”, said the Italian Minister for the Environment and Energy Security, Gilberto Pichetto Fratin, at a press conference on Tuesday 30 April.
Coal
Until now, the G7 members have never been able to agree on a precise date (see EUROPE 13163/11) because of Japan’s position, but also that of the United States which, within the G7, are the most dependent on coal.
Gas
As for dependence on gas, the G7 did not put an end date to public investment in this fossil fuel. The press release states that in order to eliminate the G7’s dependence on Russian gas, “publicly supported investments in the gas sector can be appropriate as a temporary response”.
Nuclear
In their final communiqué, the ministers also recognised the role that nuclear energy can play in decarbonisation efforts.
“We will act together to promote research and ensure that the conditions are in place to support the use of nuclear energy, which is a clean form of energy”, said the Italian Minister.
Plastic pollution
For the first time too, the G7 is invoking the need to curb plastic pollution.
At the time of the meeting, international negotiations between more than 170 countries were taking place in Ottawa, Canada, resulting in a strategic plan - the Ottawa Roadmap - setting out the basis for a future binding international treaty on plastic pollution.
The G7 communiqué mentions the goal of reducing additional plastic pollution to zero by 2040 and the support for the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) to complete its work to develop this legally binding international instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment, by the end of 2024.
International commitment
The non-binding targets set at this ministerial meeting will be the subject of further discussions between the G7 Heads of State and Government, who will meet from 13 to 15 June in the presence of the Presidents of the European Commission and the European Council.
Canada, following in the footsteps of the Italian Presidency, has committed to continuing efforts to eliminate fossil fuels and to focus on financing the climate transition, recognising the major role that the G7 can play in financing issues.
Finally, the ministers indicated that climate issues will also be high on the agenda at the next G20 summit, in Brazil in November, and at COP29, in Baku, Azerbaijan.
To see the press release: https://aeur.eu/f/c0w (Original version in French by Nithya Paquiry and Pauline Denys)