G7 Plans to Eliminate Coal-Fired Power Plants by the Mid-2030s

Group of Seven ministers met in Turin, Italy, and agreed on a timeframe for phasing out coal-fired power plants by the mid-2030s. This decision comes after the world pledged to transition away from coal, oil, and gas at the U.N.’s COP28 climate summit in Dubai.

The G7 countries, including Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the U.K., and the U.S., committed to phasing out existing unabated coal power generation in their energy systems during the first half of the 2030s. However, the agreement left room for flexibility based on each country’s net zero pathways and the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

While some environmentalists hailed the decision as a significant step forward, others criticized it as being too late. Negotiations over a fixed date were reportedly challenging, with Japan, a country heavily reliant on coal, hesitant to set a specific deadline.

The G7 ministers also addressed the issue of plastic pollution, aiming to reduce and potentially restrain global plastic production. They renewed their commitments to end plastic pollution by 2040 and emphasized the need for more funds for adaptation to climate change and energy systems in developing countries.

The upcoming G7 summit in southern Italy in June will see the leaders of these countries produce their own statement on climate action. The decisions made at the Turin meeting are seen as crucial in translating the global climate agreements into national policies and setting the stage for further action on reducing emissions and combating climate change.