G7 meeting on climate in Turin

Translated by Andrea Solazzo

The latest G7 meeting, which saw the ministerial representatives of the world's seven major powers discussing environmental and climate policies, has just ended; it took place on 28, 29 and 30 April in the Royale Palace of Venaria, Turin.

The topic of the summit, Climate, Energy and Environment, saw the ministers talking about sustainability, energy transition and security guarantees in the supply of raw materials.

At the end of the working sessions, which lasted two days and were led by the Italian Minister of the Environment and Energy Security Gilberto Pichetto, they reached an agreement written in the Venaria Charter: it gives a precise follow-up to the objectives agreed at COP 28 and sends a clear message to other countries, in particular the major economies, on the level of commitment needed to adequately respond to the challenge of change climate, in an ambitious and effective way.

The most important agreement was reached on energy transition, with countries committing to stop using coal for electricity generation by 2035 or, in any case, a date compatible with the goal of keeping the rise in temperature to within one and a half degrees, limiting its use to the minimum necessary in the meantime.

Besides the abandonment of coal, further energy policy agreements favour the strong growth of renewable energies through the multiplication of energy storage capacity. Based on the COP 28 commitment (to triple renewables and doubling energy efficiency by 2030), States took on the task of not only tripling renewable energy capacity by 2030, but also increasing green energy production sixfold to 1.5 TW globally by 2030.

Another topic of discussion was nuclear. In particular, States agreed to set up a working group on fusion energy, in order to share practices and improve cooperation and development in fusion systems, encouraging an increase of private and public investments and taking a joint decision on regulatory aspects.

About politics, significant was the agreement to commit to the emancipation from remaining Russian gas imports, as support measures for Ukraine.

Concerning renewables and sustainability, they agreed upon the reduction of methane emissions, with a commitment to reduce pollutant gas from fossil fuel chains by 75% by 2030, as well as a discussion on the elimination of greenhouse gases other than CO2.

In addition, an ambitious agreement sees the decarbonisation of industrial plants, replacing polluting raw materials through innovative technologies with low-emission renewable hydrogen and biomethane.

Moreover, they want to promote the security of supply of critical raw materials through the concrete implementation of the Plan decided at the G7 meeting the previous year.

Regarding the support of climate change efforts, essential decisions were made about a creation of a “G7 Hub”, to accelerate adaptation actions. It was dedicated to the promotion of sustainable land management project initiatives in Africa and in the Mediterranean basin.

Moving to the protection of natural resources, there was the decision to set up a 'G7 Water Coalition', the first G7 initiative on the matter. About the circular economy, the aim is to develop a common “Voluntary Agenda on Circular Textiles and Fashion” between governments, companies and stakeholders, in order to drive the change in the textile and fashion industry.

Finally, referring to the international cooperation on economic development, the commitment sees the Powers engaged in ensuring a transition to clean energy in developing countries, focusing on Africa.

The meeting ended on a profitable way, with the involvement of States in important, topical initiatives that will feature prominently in discussions on the subject in the following years.

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