THE G7 LEADERS have agreed that the world should phase out the use of fossil fuels by the end of this century.
Merkel said today that the G7 leaders committed themselves to the need to “decarbonise the global economy in the course of this century”.
Fossil fuels
That is a technical term for ending the use of oil, gas and coal — but not nuclear power — and replacing them with alternative sources of energy such as wind and solar power.
Merkel had pressed for the G7 to agree on the goal so it can be put forward at a summit on climate change later this year in Paris.
Burning carbon-based fuels such as oil and gas releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, which is blamed for global warming.
Climate change
The agreement among world leaders sends a strong signal to the climate change conference in Paris later this year.
US President Barack Obama said the G7 leaders had made headway toward a “strong” climate pact at an end-of-year UN conference in Paris.
“We continued to make progress toward a strong climate agreement in Paris,” he told reporters as a summit in Germany wrapped up.
Japan and Canada, in particular, have been less enthusiastic about the kind of strong agreement advocated by Merkel, who has been labeled the “climate chancellor” in Germany.
The G7 which used to be the G8 until Russia was excluded last year over its actions in Ukraine — also opened its doors to guest speakers from international organisations and developing countries today
Protesters, who were kept far from the conference venue, staged a final rally nearby Garmisch-Partenkirchen on Monday morning. Police said the event was peaceful.
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