For the first time, the world’s seven largest industrialized countries have announced their intention to phase out coal. However, there is no specific date in the final document of the energy and climate ministers who met in Berlin.
On Friday, G7 representatives pledged concrete steps to end coal-fired electricity generation. In addition, the entire energy sector must be largely CO2-free by 2035, which also prohibits gas or oil-fired power stations. According to this directive, traffic must be largely free of fossil fuels by 2030. Despite the war in Ukraine and the current gas and oil supply emergency, climate goals are being met and efforts are being stepped up, ministers said at their conference.
Before the meeting, German climate minister Robert Habeck said he hoped the G7 would play a leading role in the farewell to coal. If agreement can be reached here, the impetus will be passed on to the G7 Conference of Heads of State or Government in June and then to the enlarged G20 group. The states thereby emphasized their commitment to the world’s central climate goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees compared to the pre-industrial period.
For the Greens in the traffic light coalition in Germany, despite the lack of a date, the deployment of the G7 should be tailwind. The coalition agreement stipulates that the coal phase should ‘ideally’ take place in 2030 instead of 2038 at the latest. In addition, Habeck has proposed in a legislative package that the electricity sector should be able to live emission-free by 2035. However, this is met with resistance from the FDP, who could change this in the parliamentary process.
Stop fossil fuel subsidies by 2025
The states want to largely end fossil fuel subsidies by 2025 and allow international financing of gas, oil and coal projects to end this year. Exceptions should only be allowed within narrow limits if the projects have a climate impact. This can be, for example, the repair of leaking gas systems. Carbon dioxide capture plants are still excluded from the plan. Several countries promote this technology called Carbon Capture and Storage, but in Germany underground storage of CO2 is banned.
The establishment of a “climate club” was also proposed to improve coordination. States must voluntarily join them. Similar rules for climate protection in industry should then apply here, so that these countries can waive tariffs to protect cheap products that are manufactured without climate specifications.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
