The Group of Seven (G7) countries, comprising the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, and Japan, have finalized an agreement to phase out the use of unabated coal-fired power plants by 2035. This critical decision means reducing dependence on one of the most polluting fossil fuels and addressing the urgent need for climate mitigation.
The agreement, reached during a meeting this week in Turin, Italy, includes a clause that allows for the continued operation of coal-fired plants if they implement carbon capture technologies to prevent emissions from entering the atmosphere. The term “unabated” indicates that only coal plants releasing emissions directly into the environment are targeted under this plan. Nations with significant coal dependencies, such as Japan and Germany, which respectively derive 32% and 27% of their electricity from coal, may face challenges transitioning within the stipulated timeframe. Conversely, Italy, Canada, the United Kingdom, and France are committed to an accelerated phase-out by 2030.
The agreement also allows countries to adjust their phase-out timelines to align with the global goal of limiting warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. However, experts like Pieter de Pous, the fossil fuel transition program lead at E3G, highlight that integral steps are being taken towards this goal, signaling a firm commitment from the G7 nations.
Global leaders like Jennifer Layke, the global director of energy at the World Resources Institute, have praised the decision as a leadership move that could accelerate the global transition away from coal. This sentiment is echoed in the broader context where, according to Jillian Ambrose of the Guardian, an annual shutdown of 6% of the world’s coal capacity is necessary to avert a climate emergency.
Despite these advances, the world’s largest coal consumers, China and India, continue to increase their reliance on coal, complicating global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The new U.S. administration has also implemented stringent emissions standards for long-operating coal-fired plants, aiming to dramatically cut carbon and pollutant outputs.
The G7’s commitment comes as a continuation of discussions from last year’s COP 28 conference in the United Arab Emirates, where an explicit fossil fuel phase-out was not achieved. This new agreement marks a crucial step for G7 nations in setting a definitive timeline for coal cessation.
As the dialogue around fossil fuel dependency continues, experts like Dave Jones of Ember and Jane Ellis from Climate Analytics advocate for a broader focus on phasing out other high-emission sources like natural gas, which has been the biggest contributor to the rise in global CO2 emissions over the past decade.
This collective move by the G7 could serve as a model for other nations, influencing global energy policies and supporting the transition to a more sustainable and environmentally responsible energy landscape.
