G-7 Countries Have Agreed To 'Eventual' Phaseout Of Coal-Fired Power
New York (Knewz) — The Group of Seven (G-7) has agreed to an “eventual” phaseout of coal-fired power.
The environment ministers of G-7 made the announcement May 27.
The United States is among G-7 members along with Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United Kingdom.
According to The Hill, Japan will be particularly affected by the eventual phaseout of coal-fired power as it received 32 percent of its electricity from the source in 2019.
Coal is responsible for nearly 22 percent of the United States energy used.
“We remain convinced that the most important contribution towards energy security is an accelerated and prudently managed clean energy transition and are steadfastly committed to pursuing this,” a joint statement from the G-7 reads.
The new pact takes a step further than last year’s COP26 climate meeting in Glasgow, Scotland, where the G-7 agreed to “phase down” coal.
The G-7 stated that its members are committed to “predominantly decarbonised electricity sectors by 2035.”
Coal is among “greenhouse gases [that] trap heat and make the planet warmer,” according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
According to the EPA, approximately 60 percent of the United States’ electricity production comes from the burning of fossil fuels, mostly from coal and natural gas.
Transportation, which has been discussed extensively since gas prices began to soar at the start of 2022, generates the largest share of greenhouse gas emissions, the EPA states.
Other factors that contribute to greenhouse gas emissions include industry, commercial and residential uses, agriculture and land use and forestry.
Though greenhouse gases are still a major issue, the United States has been able to reduce its use in the last 30 years. Greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. are down 7 percent since 1990, according to the EPA.
The G-7 commitment to phase out coal-fired power will only increase that trend.