G7 energy ministers agreed on Tuesday to shut down their coal-fired power plants by 2035 at the latest, taking a major step towards weaning off fossil fuels and fighting climate change.
About this write Reuters agency.
“This is a historical moment“, British Energy and Net Zero Secretary Andrew Bowie said in announcing the deal.
The G7 agreement calls for member countries to phase out the use of coal for electricity generation over the next 11 years, replacing it with renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power. This step will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions that cause global warming.
“This is an important step in the right direction, but we need to do more” said climate activist Greta Thunberg.We must accelerate the transition to clean energy and leave fossil fuels behind“.
The G7 decision goes further than previous commitments made by member states last year, when they only promised to “phase out” of coal power without setting a clear date.
The new deal also comes as the European Union plans to propose new restrictions on imports of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) as part of sanctions in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Some G7 countries, such as Italy, are heavily dependent on Russian LNG, so the transition to clean energy could be a challenge for them.
“It will not be easy, but it is possible”, – said the Italian Minister of Energy, Gilberto Picetto-Fratin.
