G7 energy ministers to call for phasing out coal by early 2030s

Climate, energy and environment ministers from the Group of Seven nations are expected to adopt a statement outlining measures to cut greenhouse gas emissions. It includes a call to phase out coal power generation in the first half of the 2030s.

The ministers began two-day talks in Turin, Italy on Monday.

The meeting follows the COP 28 United Nations climate change conference last year, when delegates conducted their first "global stocktake" to assess progress in efforts to tackle climate change.

According to the draft statement, the G7 nations plan to urge other countries to submit their new emissions reduction target for 2030 and later by early next year.

The statement calls for phasing out coal-fired power plants that lack measures to reduce emissions by the first half of the 2030s, or in line with the goal of limiting the rise in global temperatures to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.

In order to triple renewable energy capacity globally by 2030, the statement calls for boosting energy storage in the power sector through storage batteries and other methods to 1,500 gigawatts. That's more than six times current levels.

The statement says the G7 countries plan to reduce emissions from automobiles in diverse ways and bolster infrastructure for charging electric vehicles.

They also plan to use various methods to collect data on plastic waste in the oceans.

The statement is expected to be adopted on Tuesday.