Climate protection, energy and environment ministers of the G7 countries on Thursday, May 26, 2022, commenced a two-day meeting in Berlin to discuss ways out of the climate, biodiversity and pollution crisis.
The deliberations of the G7 are said to be influenced by Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine. To this end, the G7 energy ministers had already agreed in a joint declaration on March 10, 2022, to coordinate closely in their response to the upheavals on the international energy markets caused by the war, increases in energy prices and risks to the security of energy supply.
At the same time, the G7 are reportedly firm and encouraged in their course to the climate protection commitments made in Paris and Glasgow and emphasise the importance of an accelerated energy transition as a key contribution both to more climate protection and more energy security.
In addition to the climate crisis, the fight against the pollution crisis and the mass extinction of species are also on the G7 agenda. The aim is to make a clear commitment to marine protection, biodiversity protection and a global plastic waste agreement.
“Fighting these crises is fundamental to our livelihood and secures our future. for biodiversity protection and for a global plastic waste agreement. Fighting these crises is fundamental to our livelihood and secures our future. for biodiversity protection and for a global plastic waste agreement. Fighting these crises is fundamental to our livelihood and secures our future,” said a G7 source.
At the G7 meeting, climate protection and energy are about a variety of topics, including:
- Joint action by the G7 to implement the Paris Agreement and the Glasgow Climate Pact
- Climate finance: Reach the $100 billion target as soon as possible and double the collective financing for adaptation
- Accelerating the energy transition and accelerating the expansion of renewable energies and energy efficiency; Decarbonisation of the electricity, transport, industry and building sectors
- Development of international supply chains for green and sustainably produced hydrogen and its derivatives
- Shaping structural change, the socially just energy transition and strengthening the participation of civil society groups and increasing gender equality.
- Decarbonisation of the steel and cement industrial sectors
- International cooperation beyond the G7, including discussion of the concept of an open, cooperative, international climate club.
German Federal Minister for Economics and Climate Protection, Robert Habeck, said: “The G7 is of great importance these days. We pledge our solidarity with Ukraine and stand united against Russian aggression. We must find effective answers to the acute challenges facing our citizens and companies, particularly the effects of war on energy prices and security of supply.
“At the same time, it is important that we in the G7 stay on course together: More than ever, we must promote a global energy transition and climate protection and resolutely promote the global expansion of renewable energies, the decarbonisation of the consumption sectors and the increase in energy efficiency.”
The G7 are also advising on advances in research to combat the climate crisis. Climate aspects should also be linked more closely with a security policy approach, because, according to the group, “if we fight the climate crisis effectively, we will also eliminate the causes of poverty and conflicts at the same time”.
But the environment is caught in a triple crisis: the climate crisis, the mass extinction of species, and the pollution crisis. These crises have a global impact and must be solved together, added Habeck.
German Federal Minister for the Environment and Consumer Protection, Steffi Lemke: “The most important signal that should go out from the G7 meeting is: we are tackling the global crises together, we are acting hand in hand as strong partners. That is why this G7 meeting is also a joint meeting of climate, energy and environment ministers. I am committed to a speedy and successful conclusion to the negotiations for a new global framework to protect biodiversity.
“The financial framework for measures to protect biodiversity must be increased. In addition, we finally need an agreement in the negotiations on biodiversity in the seas. The G7 countries should commit to establishing more marine protected areas and curbing littering.”
At the G7 meeting, environmental protection is about a bundle of topics, including:
- a speedy and successful conclusion of the negotiations for a new global framework for the protection of biodiversity and an increase in the financial framework for biodiversity measures
- an agreement in the negotiations on marine biodiversity (BBNJ) and in the conservation of Antarctic marine living resources (CCAMLR) to designate protected areas
- a commitment to establishing more marine sanctuaries and environmental standards in deep seabed mining; It is planned that the G7 will agree and decide on an “Ocean Deal”.
- an active contribution to the negotiations for a global plastic waste agreement
- the recognition of chemicals management as a global challenge; The goal is an ambitious chemicals agreement in the G7 countries
- Sustainability as an important focus of the G7 meeting of environment ministers: a “Berlin Road Map” is to be presented as a three-year work plan for the sustainable use of resources, with concrete work steps for better resource efficiency, and
- sustainable supply chains, where due diligence regulation is to be raised to the G7 level. This also includes deforestation-free supply chains.
