Read the full statement here:
Russia’s war against Ukraine has created a humanitarian catastrophe, first and foremost in Ukraine. However, the war also has global implications. Many countries and vulnerable communities are hit by price hikes for energy and food. It has become painfully clear that a reliance on fossil fuels creates geopolitical, financial and climate risks that undermine human rights to food and energy. However, recent developments and comments by G7 leaders on increasing fossil fuels investments show that they are not taking these risks seriously and will delay the transition.
Given these political circumstances, we encourage the G7 to provide clear pathways towards net-zero, with ambitious action at home and support for other countries to increase their resilience, adequately adapt, and support their transitions. We call on the G7 to follow through on the results of multilateral processes, especially under the UNFCCC and concerning the implementation of the Paris Agreement. Moreover, they should play an important role in the negotiations for the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty to complement the Paris Agreement and to financially support a rapid, equitable and managed phase-out of fossil fuels. Recent findings from the IPCC during its sixth assessment cycle made clear that rapid progress on mitigation, adaptation, and resilience is needed. The G7 need to avoid backsliding on previous commitments, but show ambition and responsibility.
1. Show ambition in line with 1.5°C
In Glasgow, all states committed to put forward enhanced Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) as per their fair share by the end of this year. The G7 have to show that they stand by this commitment and as industrialized nations take their historical responsibility seriously. Ambition coalitions like the proposed Climate Club must provide a clear added value to current ambition levels and must not delay national commitments. They should be open and inclusive, and must aim to complement and support ambitious implementation of the Paris Agreement. They must not compete with the UNFCCC or other multilateral processes.
2. Coal phase-out
At COP26 all Parties agreed to a phase-down of unabated coal-fired power generation. G7 ministers so far have committed to “concrete and timely steps towards the goal of an eventual phase-out of domestic unabated coal power generation”. We call on the G7 to demonstrate global leadership by agreeing on a phase-out of coal power generation by 2030 in line with their overall
commitment to predominantly decarbonized power sectors by 2035.
3. Ending investments and other subsidies for fossil fuels
G7 ministers have already committed to end international support for fossil fuel projects by the end of 2022. To emphasize their commitment to a just energy transition worldwide, G7 leaders cannot backslide from this commitment at the summit, but rather have to commit to translating it into national policies ahead of COP27.Another crucial result of the Glasgow Climate Pact was a commitment to phase-out inefficient fossil fuel subsidies. G7 countries made this commitment repeatedly since 2016, and it was reiterated again by climate, environment, and energy ministers this year. We call on G7 leaders to take concrete steps towards a phase-out, create transparent inventories by the end of this year and update them annually.
4. Ramp-up and redirect investments in renewable energies and energy efficiency
The G7’s investments should be clearly targeted towards renewable energies and energy efficiency. According to the IPCC AR6 Working Group III report, investments in energy efficiency and electricity alone have to annually at least double until 2030 - in some regions these investments even have to increase sevenfold. This gap between mitigation investments and mitigation needs has to be addressed by G7 leaders. Mitigation efforts must also not undermine adaptation options. We call on G7 leaders to significantly increase their investments in mitigation in line with the findings from the IPCC’s sixth assessment that highlights climate resilient development pathways involving joined-up approaches that integrate mitigation, adaptation, and development.
5. Support to address loss and damage, strengthen resilience and scale up just transitions globally
In addition to ending fossil fuel investments abroad, the G7 should provide fast and additional non-debt creating climate finance to meaningfully support countries with their just energy transitions, for example, through Just Energy Transition Partnerships. Increasing finance to strengthen resilience and support with loss and damage already encountered by many countries and communities is equally important. We call on the G7 to meet the $100 billion commitment as soon as possible, scaling it up considering a needs-based target for the 2025 goal and providing additional climate finance to support countries with their just energy transitions. Moreover, the G7 should achieve the goal of doubling adaptation finance by 2025, and to provide new, additional, accessible grant support, needs-based finance to address loss and damage. To this end, the G7 should support the establishment of a Loss and Damage Finance Facility at COP27.
Download the Civil7 Statement on Climate and Energy here.
