The Group of Seven is an inter-governmental political forum consisting of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK and the USA. The G7 members just held a three-day summit in Cornwall, England. According to a joint statement issued at the conclusion of the summit, the G7 countries will lead a technology-driven transition to net-zero carbon emissions. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson asked the other leaders to “to seize the opportunity to fight and build back better from coronavirus, uniting to make the future fairer, greener and more prosperous”.
The Carbis Bay Communiqué, titled Our Shared Agenda for Global Action to Build Back Better, noted the “clear roadmap” provided last month by the International Energy Agency. The G7 members said that they would prioritize the most urgent and polluting sectors and activities. The heads of state of Australia, India, South Korea and South Africa joined the G7 members at their summit. They said, “We will continue to work together with these and all our partners in tackling global challenges.”
In the energy section, the G7 said that they will “increase energy efficiency, accelerate renewable and other zero-emissions energy deployment, reduce wasteful consumption, leverage innovation all whilst maintaining energy security.” In their own individual countries, G7 members are committed to achieving an “overwhelmingly” decarbonized power system in the 2030s, and internationally, to aligning official international financing with the global achievement of net-zero green house gas emission no later than 2050 and for deep emission reductions in the 2020s.
The G7 communiqué said, “We will phase out new direct government support for international carbon-intensive fossil fuel energy as soon as possible, with limited exceptions consistent with an ambitious climate neutrality pathway, the Paris Agreement, 1.5°C goal and best available science. To be credible, ambitions need to be supported by tangible actions in all sectors of our economies and societies.”
Coal power generation is the single biggest cause of green house gas emissions. The G7 have committed to rapidly scale-up technologies and policies that further accelerates the transition away from unabated coal capacity. The communiqué said, “This transition must go hand-in-hand with policies and support for a just transition for affected workers and sectors so that no person, group or geographic region is left behind.”
International investments in unabated coal must end now according to the communiqué. They added that they are committed to an end to new direct government support for unabated international thermal coal power generation by the end of 2021. This involves Official Development Assistance, export finance, investment and financial and trade promotion support.
With respect to industry and innovation, the communiqué said that the G7 will focus on accelerating progress on electrification and batteries, hydrogen, carbon capture, usage and storage, zero-emission aviation and shipping “and for those countries that opt to use it”, nuclear power.
In the first week of June, the 6th Mission Innovation Ministerial was held along side the 12th Clean Energy Ministerial. The Green Powered Future Mission was launched at this event. This mission is the third and supplements the Hydrogen and Shipping Missions. The G7 leaders said that they “fully support” launching Mission Innovation phase two and the Clean Energy Ministerial third phase.
Sama Bilbao y León is the director general of World Nuclear Association. In response to the communiqué, she said, “If the G7 nations are committed to phasing out coal, then they will need to replace it with a low-carbon, affordable and around-the-clock proven energy source - only nuclear fits the bill. “Investing in nuclear energy will create jobs, reinvigorate economies and protect the planet. The G7 nations must turn their ambitions into actions and take all the steps necessary to maximize the contribution of nuclear power plants in operation today and ensure a rapid and substantial increase in nuclear new build.”