In a significant move towards combating climate change, the Group of Seven (G7) nations declared on Tuesday their commitment to terminating the use of “unabated” coal by 2035. This resolution, reached after deliberations among energy, climate, and environment ministers in Turin, Italy, marks a breakthrough in G7 negotiations that had previously stalled over several years. The communiqué released following the talks stipulates the intention to “phase out existing unabated coal power generation in our energy systems during the first half of 2030s.” However, by specifying “unabated” coal, the agreement offers flexibility for countries to continue employing this fossil fuel post-2035 if they implement measures to capture carbon emissions before release into the atmosphere. Furthermore, the accord allows countries the option to adopt a timeline aligned with maintaining a limit of 1.5°C temperature rise, in accordance with their net-zero pathways. Several G7 members, representing major economies in the developed world, have made substantial progress in reducing coal dependency. Notably, the UK, Italy, and Canada generate less than 6% of their electricity from coal, while France relies minimally on it. Conversely, coal still constitutes a significant portion of electricity generation in Japan (32%), Germany (27%), and the US (16%), according to data from the think tank Ember. This announcement follows closely on the heels of the US Environmental Protection Agency’s unveiling of new regulations mandating coal-fired power plants to either capture the majority of their climate pollutants or cease operations by 2039. Italian Environment and Energy Security Minister Gilberto Pichetto Fratin defended the agreement, emphasizing that the language assures a phased reduction of coal usage across G7 nations while safeguarding economic and social stability. Although some climate experts view the agreement positively as a step forward after years of impasse, others criticize the 2035 deadline as insufficient for limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. Climate Analytics contends that to achieve this goal, all coal usage in G7 countries must cease by 2030 at the latest, with natural gas use ending by 2035. Jane Ellis, head of climate policy at Climate Analytics, underscores the necessity for a swifter transition to renewables, particularly highlighting concerns regarding ongoing investments in domestic gas facilities by G7 governments. Notably, while the resolution addresses coal, it omits any mention of a phase-out plan for gas, despite its significant contribution to CO2 emissions. The G7’s leadership in climate policy often influences broader international efforts, including those within the G20, where decisions impact major emitters and fossil fuel producers alike.
