G7 commits to coal phase
On Monday, a UK minister announced that ministers from the Group of Seven nations have reached an agreement to close down all their coal plants by 2035 at the latest. This represents a significant breakthrough in climate policy and may serve as a catalyst for other countries to follow suit.
Establishing a deadline to phase out coal, known as the most climate-polluting fossil fuel, has been a contentious topic at international climate negotiations. Japan, which relied on coal for 32% of its electricity in 2023 according to the climate think tank Ember, has previously obstructed progress on this issue at past G7 meetings, as reported by CNN.
Andrew Bowie, a UK minister at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, confirmed the agreement to phase out coal during an interview with Class CNBC in Turin, Italy. He described it as a historic achievement, noting that similar consensus was not reached at COP28 in Dubai the previous year.
The gathering of G7 nations at the table to convey a message to the world, affirming our commitment as advanced economies to phase out coal by the early 2030s, is truly remarkable.
When questioned about the development, the UK Ministry for Energy and Net Zero directed CNN to the interview.
The US State Department opted not to comment on the G7 agreement. In a related move, the US Environmental Protection Agency introduced new regulations last week, stipulating that coal-fired power plants must either capture almost all of their climate pollution or cease operations by 2039.
“Coming just days after the EPA released proposed new rules that will essentially accelerate the phaseout schedule for most coal plants, this G7 commitment further confirms from the US that coal’s exit is imminent,” stated Katrine Petersen, a senior policy advisor at climate think tank E3G.
Petersen noted that the commitment represents “a significant advancement, especially for Japan, the sole G7 country remaining without a commitment to transition away from coal.”
Several other G7 nations have already established national strategies to phase out coal, with Ember reporting that approximately 16% of the G7’s electricity is derived from this fossil fuel.
“This marks another significant blow to the coal industry,” stated Dave Jones, Program Director of Ember’s Global Insights program. “The path to eliminating coal power has been extensive: it has been over seven years since the UK, France, Italy, and Canada pledged to phase out coal power, so it is encouraging to witness the United States and particularly Japan now expressing clearer intentions.”
Jones cautioned, however, that while coal usage has been declining, gas consumption persists. “While coal may be the most polluting, the ultimate goal should be to phase out all fossil fuels,” he emphasized.
Fossil fuels stand as the primary driver of the climate crisis. Nearly every nation worldwide concurred last year during the COP28 climate discussions in Dubai to shift away from fossil fuels. However, the absence of a definitive end date for coal was regarded as a shortfall of those negotiations.
Energy, environment, and climate ministers are currently convening in Turin for discussions anticipated to conclude on Tuesday.
The G7, composed of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States, with the European Union holding special membership status, traditionally assumes a leadership role in global climate policy. The group’s resolutions frequently have a cascading effect or exert influence on the broader G20, which encompasses other significant emitters such as China and India, as well as major producers of fossil fuels like Saudi Arabia and Russia.
