France’s energy transition minister, Agnes Pannier-Runacher disclosed on Saturday, that the Group of Seven rich nations have agreed to call for reducing gas consumption and increasing electricity from renewable sources while phasing out fossil fuels faster and building no new coal-fired plants.
Pannier-Runacher told newsmen on the first of two days of climate and energy talks in Sapporo in northern Japan, that the G7 environment and energy ministers, however, could not agree on a specific date to exit coal power.
In her words, “The G7 countries have agreed that the first response to the energy crisis must be to reduce energy and gas consumptionโฆ For the first time ever, the G7 said that we must accelerate the phasing out of all unabated fossil fuels… Finally, it sent a message about accelerating renewable energy.”
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An insider who begged for anonymity also disclosed that the G7 decided to endorse a goal to “drastically increase electricity generated by renewable energies.”
According to the source, ministers also appeared to be considering numerical targets for increasing solar power capacity to at least 1 terawatt and offshore wind power capacity to 150 gigawatts by 2030.
Story was adapted from Reuters
