Over the past few days, leaders from the top countries in the world are attending the G7 meeting taking place in Cornwall. One of the items on their agenda is setting up strict restrictions on power stations using coal as the climate change battle rages.
The group at G7 has promised to gradually reduce their dependence on coal plants unless there is a technology that can control the plants’ carbon emissions. It follows a warning by eminent environmentalist Sir David Attenborough about humanity being on the brink of permanently destabilizing the balance of the planet. As such, leaders in the G7 faced human history’s greatest decisions.
The announcement regarding coal was made by the United States White House. The statement said that wealthy nations’ leaders made a first-ever agreement to keep the projected rise in global temperature to 1.5C.
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G7 Promises To Stop Coal Usage Permanently
Environmentalists see that end of coal’s use as possibly one of the biggest steps in fighting climate change. However, they want backing from richer countries so that poorer countries have the finances and technology to withstand climate change.
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The G7 meeting will seek to put a stop to any further funding for new power plants using coal in countries that are developing. Instead, they will be offered a maximum of $2.8Bn if they completely stop using coal.
The seven major nations in industrialization – Italy, Germany, France, Japan, Canada, UK, and the US – will also be discussing more plans. These plans will seek to reduce emissions from cement and steel manufacture, farming, and transport. They are also aiming to preserve 30% of all the marine and land areas for nature by the end of the decade. They also seek to promise to maintain their emission levels in 2030 equal to that in 2010.
However, environmentalists believe the G7 summit has failed to deliver on the key point of financial help for developing countries. Nevertheless, the decision to put a complete stop to coal is a significant decision that will pressurize China to take steps. As a result, there has been some progress, as little as it may be. Moreover, the global agreement for climate-protecting that is to take place at COP26 next year is still on target.
He am Hazel from Africa
Am an activist about climate in my own country Zambia
Please help me join this group so that I learn a lot as well here in Africa