The G7 countries on April 30 announced that the group has agreed 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.”
The G7 countries are Italy, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, and Japan.
The use of “unabated” coal leaves flexibility for countries to continue to use coal past 2035 if the carbon dioxide emissions are captured.
Similarly, “in a timeline consistent with keeping a limit of 1.5°C temperature rise within reach, in line with countries’ net-zero pathways,” appears to allow counties to keep using coal as long as their overall national emissions wouldn’t contribute to global warming of more than 1.5 degrees.
Media reports indicate these caveats were likely included to provide additional flexibility, in particular to Japan, which has previously been hesitant to sign on to such an agreement.
While this issue has been discussed previously by the G7 countries, the April 30 announcement marks the first time the group has explicitly referenced or committed to phasing out coal.
