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G7 nations commit to phasing out coal by 2035 but give Japan some flexibility

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27 Comments
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No one size fits all.

12 ( +12 / -0 )

but left flexibility for countries heavily reliant on coal.

included language that could extend the 2035 deadline 

seems like another outbreak of definite-maybe-syndrome (⌒▽⌒)

-1 ( +8 / -9 )

.

Ummm - such a hypocritical double standard !

What about China !????

Though NOT a G7 country - but hey - WHERE is the International censor on China's massive use of coal for energy ?

China is the world's largest producer and consumer of coals .

Her use has almost QUADUPLED since 1990 - so to date 56% of China's energy is Coal

5 ( +10 / -5 )

China and india should be roped in else its just non-sense commitment.

8 ( +9 / -1 )

And here in hypocritical Australia, we "must" go net zero no matter what it costs the Australian people (we can import our own natural gas back from o/s cheaper than it's being sold here), yet we still are the largest exporter of coal to the world and virtually equal first with natural gas. Maybe we should stop exporting the stuff and see how that goes down with our export income.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Meanwhile, China has 306 new coal plants being constructed or planned for construction.

6 ( +8 / -2 )

Not defending China, but that's not a good excuse for G7. It's like children arguing that they don't have to eat veggies because one of their friends doesn't.

Don't worry, China gets plenty of criticism for their coal use.

Ummm - such a hypocritical double standard !

What about China !????

Though NOT a G7 country - but hey - WHERE is the International censor on China's massive use of coal for energy ?

China is the world's largest producer and consumer of coals .

Her use has almost QUADUPLED since 1990 - so to date 56% of China's energy is Coal

5 ( +6 / -1 )

Oil and gas probably just as important if not more important than coal. If only Japan did not pointlessly decide to halt all nuclear power after the 2011 Tohoku tsunami.

-4 ( +3 / -7 )

@semperfi Your iPhone wasn't built using bicycle power. With the continued aggressive behavior of the USA China is forced to rely more on domestic sources of energy. Of course China substantially leads the world in the installation of wind and solar power generation.

-3 ( +4 / -7 )

A much more effective approach would be for countries to agree to shrink their populations. However, few are willing to for their own selfish reasons. As a result, all of us and our children will suffer.

-4 ( +2 / -6 )

Japan Will pretend to abide and blatantly ignore the agreement.

only because of a sinking economy and depopulation will pollution diminish in Japan

-8 ( +5 / -13 )

I don't understand why we didn't invest more into geo-thermal here in Japan. The onsen ryokan people should have been educated in how little affect a geo-thermal plant would have on the quality of onsen and the plants will be far enough that it won't be an eyesore. Not to mention we already have tons of plants near riverbeds sucking up Mt. Fuji's water and bottling them up yet we don't here village people complaining that their water is tainted.

8 ( +9 / -1 )

Good news! Now I wanna hear G7's plans to phase out Israeli genocide support!

2 ( +8 / -6 )

These net-zero pronouncements are getting crazier by the day, but the G7 governments seem intent on social and economic suicide no matter what the cost to the people they're supposed to represent. I look forward to Japan simply paying lip service to this nonsense and going its own way.

The hellbent pursuit of unreliables is totally unrealistic unless these governments and whoever owns them are deliberately trying to run their respective countries into the ground; the only medium- to long-term solution is to transition to a nuke-and/or hydro-heavy mix with coal and LNG there to smooth the transition, and wind and solar as supplements in the few places where they're economically viable (ie, they can function without subsidies).

0 ( +4 / -4 )

"Japan is the only G7 country without a coal phase-out date."

Surprise surprise, Japan "fully commits" to creating a greener earth, but wants to be the exception to actually practicing it.

-3 ( +8 / -11 )

Without the direct commitment of the Governments of China India, this is a pointless exercise.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

What’s wrong with coal? Coal was the resource that launched modern civilization. Carbon is good. Plants need it. We need plants. It makes the earth healthy. Tsk tsk tsk

-2 ( +3 / -5 )

The Beyond Fossils Fuel campaign called the coal power phase-out commitment vague, “likely in a bid to coax a coal exit commitment from Japan.”

So not a commitment

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Japan is the only G7 country without a coal phase-out date. Britain, France, Italy and Canada are committed to phasing out coal no later than 2030, while the United States and Germany “are taking major steps toward this date,’’ said Pieter de Pous, program lead at E3G’s Coal to Clean program.

So US and Germany don't have dates also

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

G7 "leaders" are merely useful idiots.

-6 ( +1 / -7 )

@CAPTAIN

The G7 should support Israel fully with its suppression of the Palestinian revolt. Actually other actors such as China and especially India should join the war to defend Israel as well.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

TemyongToday 12:30 pm JST

What’s wrong with coal? Coal was the resource that launched modern civilization. Carbon is good. Plants need it. We need plants. It makes the earth healthy. Tsk tsk tsk

Some good sarcasm but we're all going to die or lead really crappy lives with this attitude.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Flexibility = fifty more years enough ?

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Japan leading the Green energy revolution again

0 ( +1 / -1 )

semperfiMay 1  07:39 am JST

Ummm - such a hypocritical double standard !

What about China !????

Though NOT a G7 country - but hey - WHERE is the International censor on China's massive use of coal for energy ?

China is the world's largest producer and consumer of coals .

Her use has almost QUADUPLED since 1990 - so to date 56% of China's energy is Coal

As the another comment was saying, finger-pointing itself is already not a good way to argue anything.

But another aspect is that China reduced their coal consumption in last 10 years and replaced (mostly) with renewable energy. (Source: China: Energy Country Profile - Our World in Data)

Simply said, it's not as easy as you make it seem

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Probably best to discuss countries mentioned in the article

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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