G7 Leaders Agree to Phase Out Fossil Fuels

Jun 9th, 2015 | By Michael Bittner | Category: Climate Change

ABC News reported today that the G7 group of industrial nations had pledged to phase out fossil fuel use by the end of the 21st century. According to the ABC report, the leaders stressed that “deep cuts in global greenhouse gas emissions” were required. The Wall Street Journal reported that

The leaders of the seven countries, including the U.S. and meeting host Germany, said in a joint statement at the end of the G-7 summit here that deep cuts in carbon dioxide emissions were needed this century. They said countries around the world should hold to the upper end of a U.N. recommendation calling for 40% to 70% reductions in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 compared with 2010.

The G7 also reaffirmed the 2009 Copenhagen Accord’s goal of limiting global warming in the 21st century compared to pre-industrial levels to 2 degrees Celsius.

According to a Climate Action Tracker report, the G7 and European Union nations account for around 30% of global greenhouse gas emissions and 40% of global Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

The G7 nations include