Electricity to be decarbonised by 2035: G7

Washington, May 27 (UNI) The Group of 7 or G7, representing some of the world’s biggest economies, on Friday agreed to achieve “predominantly decarbonized” electricity sectors by 2035, which according to experts say will be a major step in helping the world avert catastrophic climate change, CNN reported.
The G7 nations made the new pledge in a 40-page communiqué, which also included a reaffirmation to end fossil fuel subsidies by the end of this year.
The decision however, does allow countries open to continue using fossil fuels if their greenhouse gases are “captured.” At present there is no technology available which can capture 100 per cent of greenhouse gases emitted by the burning of fossil fuels.
The G7 includes the United States, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United Kingdom, as well as the European Union. Their decisions on energy and climate are often pitched to the wider G20 group, which together produce 80 per cent of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions.
The G20 will meet in later this year in November in.
The decision comes against the backdrop of Russia’s war in Ukraine, which has given a renewed sense of urgency — in Europe in particular — to expedite the transition to cleaner energy sources. Most European countries are dependent on Russian oil and gas to meet their energy needs.
German Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action Robert Habeck said that the amount of carbon dioxide being released in the atmosphere means the world cannot meet its target of containing global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. This is the temperature rise threshold that scientists say is necessary to avoid worsening climate change and pushing crucial ecosystems to tipping points.
Phil MacDonald, chief operating officer of the climate and energy research group Ember, claimed that the decision had “changed the game for the global electricity transition”, adding that decarbonizing electricity by 2035 is the quickest and cheapest way to Net Zero.” referring to a goal where the world emits as little greenhouse gas as possible and offsets any that are impossible to avoid. Developed nations are typically aiming to reach net zero by 2050.