G7 agrees to phase out use of unabated coal power plants

Energy and climate ministers from the G7 group have agreed to phase out the use of coal power where the emissions have not been captured by 2035.

“It is a very strong signal from industrialized countries. It is a big signal to the world to reduce coal,” Italian minister and meeting chair, Gilberto Pichetto Fratin told The Guardian.

By referring to the unabated use of coal, the pledge leaves room for countries to keep burning coal to generate electricity, but only if power plants are fitted with carbon-capture technology to stop emissions.

This historic agreement was published just days after the US Environmental Protection Agency outlined a new directive that will require US coal-fired power plants to capture emissions or shut down.