Environmental and Climate Change Minister Steven Guilbeault said he was “very optimistic” about the outcome of the G7 climate ministers’ meeting and believed there was consensus on the idea of eliminating energy pollution produced by coal. .
Senior officials from the G7 countries held a three -day meeting in Berlin, Germany, where Minister Guilbeault said he insisted on the importance of strong international action to meet the objectives of the Paris Agreement and ensure that the 1.5 ° C warming target remains achievable.
In an interview with The Canadian Press, Steven Guilbeault indicated that he believes that within the group, there is a consensus that we need to reduce or at least eliminate the use of coal, it remains to be seen where we will go exactly within the framework of the press release.
In November, delegates from 197 party representatives at COP26 in Glasgow ratified a declaration in which they pledged to a subtraction the use of coal, which has been criticized by many environmental groups, hoping instead for a promise to end energy production from coal.
Environment ministers were due to issue a statement on Friday and some media reported that behind the scenes Japan and the United States could resist a concrete commitment to coal.
But like Minister Steven Guilbeault, the German Minister of Energy and Climate seems optimistic.
L ‘Associated Press reported on Thursday that Robert Habeck said the Group of Seven countries could might show the way at play the role of pioneer to end the use of coal.
There is no question of sacrificing climate for energy security
Support for Europe’s accelerated transition to clean energy is also at the heart of discussions with G7 ministers and according to Steven Guilbeault, the Group of Seven does not intend to sacrifice the fight against climate change to fill the gap. of hydrocarbons in Europe, a situation caused by sanctions against Russia’s oil.
All the speeches I have heard today about the issue of energy security have even been accompanied by speeches to say that we cannot sacrifice the fight against climate change in the name of energy security, and that, the G7 members are united and unquestioning in itsaid Minister Guilbeault on Thursday.
He precision that there really is a level of cooperation and agreements that we have never seen in the G7which is likely to be explained by the fact that people have decided to come together and support each other, especially Europe, in everything happening in Vladimir Putin’s illegal war in Ukraine.
Note that Ottawa announced that in March Canadian industry has the capacity to gradually increase its oil and gas exports by approximately 300,000 barrels per day during 2022, to replace Russia’s oil and gas..
In a press release, Natural Resources Canada has however specified that the increase in exports to Europe will be without increasing emissions [de GES] world.
Protect biodiversity
The Canadian Minister of the Environment believes that these colleagues from other countries are highly aligned with the whole issue of biodiversity loss.
According to him, they agree on the need to have an ambitious framework for reducing global biodiversity loss at the notion of protecting 30% of our lands and oceans by 2030 seems to have a consensus.
Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson is also attending the G7 climate, energy and environment ministers meeting in Berlin.
Germany, which holds the presidency of the G7 this year, has invited Indonesia to participate in this meeting as a guest country.
Source: Radio-Canada
