Stockholm (NordSIP) – Developed countries pushing the sustainability agenda forward are often accused of hypocrisy, demanding that others forego the developmental benefits that pollution-heavy industrialisation gave them. Germany and Japan, for example, have been repeatedly singled out for the contradictions between their environmental stances and their dependence on coal energy.
Now, it appears these countries and their peers have taken steps to address these concerns. According to the Joint Climate, Energy and Environment G7 Ministers’ Meeting Communiqué published on April 30th, the G7 countries have made a commitment to “phase out existing unabated coal power generation in our energy systems during the first half of 2030s or in a timeline consistent with keeping a limit of 1.5°C temperature rise within reach, in line with countries’ net-zero pathways.”
“Building resilience to climate change impacts has never been more pressing. I welcome and support the G7 initiative to accelerate the implementation of adaptation action. The initiative encourages improved coordination and consolidation among the institutions and initiatives which are active in the field also with the objective to attract much needed private investment, and particularly towards the most vulnerable countries,” said Wopke Hoekstra, Commissioner for Climate Action, European Union.
Although the G7 members celebrated the conclusions of the Italian presidency of the Group, civil society did not see as much of a reason to celebrate.
Too Little Too Late
Greenpeace was less than impressed with this announcement. “The commitment to phase out coal is simply too little, too late. If they are serious and aligned with what the science says is needed to keep 1.5° within reach, G7 countries must ditch this dinosaur, planet-wrecking fuel no later than 2030. And the climate emergency demands they just don’t stop at coal. Fossil fuels are destroying people and planet and a commitment to rapidly phase out all fossil fuels – coal, oil and gas – is urgently needed,” Tracy Carty, Global Climate Politics Expert, Greenpeace International says.
“Faced with climate catastrophe, the G7’s persistent endorsement of fossil gas is alarming. Gas is not needed, not cheap and is certainly not a ‘bridge fuel’ to a safe climate. The biggest fossil fuel threat today by wealthy nations is coming from the rapidly expanding LNG industry. An urgent shift is needed towards less, not more, gas – and massively expanded renewables,” Carty adds.
“G7 Climate and Energy Ministers offered little to inspire confidence in their commitment to agree to an ambitious new climate finance goal at COP29 later this year. Given their wealth and historically high emissions, G7 countries are among those with primary responsibility for providing international financial support to developing countries for climate action. By the G7 Summit in June, leaders need to make clear they will not be heading to the COP empty handed and be ready to significantly increase support. They need look no further than taxing the fossil fuel industry and other high emitting sectors in order to generate revenues to do so,” Carty continues
Manuel Pulgar-Vidal, Global Climate and Energy Lead, WWF, wanted more. “This G7 pledge is an important signal that major economies are starting to get serious about the most polluting forms of energy. But if we are to progress toward the security and prosperity that a 100% renewable power generation system can bring, then these countries will need to phase out all coal by 2030. They must also make similar commitments to phase out oil and gas well before 2050. G7 countries have the opportunity to lead the world in setting the pace for climate action. They have the power to advance the energy sector transformation at the scale and pace needed to keep warming to 1.5°C. They must do better,” Pulgar-Vidal says.
Jane Ellis, Head of Climate Policy at Climate Analytics, a global climate and science and policy institute based in Germany, was also not impressed. “2035 is too late. Many of these countries have already publicly committed to phase-out dates ahead of 2030, and only have a small amount of coal capacity anyway,” Ellis says. “It’s notable that gas has not been mentioned. In the last decade, gas has been the largest source of the global increase in CO2 emissions, and many G7 governments are investing in new domestic gas facilities. This is absolutely the wrong direction to be heading in – both economically and for the climate. The G7 need to be going faster into renewables, which are cost-effective, quick to roll out and produce substantial economic benefits,” Ellis adds.
Amnesty International was also not satisfied with this commitment. “This is not the goal for coal we need and it will not deliver climate justice. Commitments put forward by G7 members – which have burnt coal for power for more than a century – to stop using this pollutant by 2035 are simply too late and weakened by unacceptable caveats,” Candy Ofime, Amnesty International’s Climate Justice Researcher, says.
However, Amnesty International considered the issue from a broader perspective, considering how it affects coal workers.“The end of coal power generation cannot come soon enough for those experiencing the worst effects of the climate crisis. Coal is one of the dirtiest energy sources and its burning has immense health impacts, particularly in lower-income countries and among marginalized, often racialized, frontline communities globally. Protection of human rights requires an urgent, full, fair and funded phase out of all fossil fuels. A just and equitable phase-out means ending financing for coal production and coal energy everywhere. The rights of workers in the coal industry must be protected during this transition,” Ofime concluded.
