Leaders from seven countries, including The Netherlands and Chile, have called on the Group of Seven (G7) wealthy nations to take the lead in phasing out the use of fossil fuels. Their aim is to develop impetus for a global agreement that would gradually transition away from reliance on oil, coal, and gas.
Various nations, including the European Union with its 27 member states, hope to secure a commitment from all countries at this year's United Nations climate conference to gradually eliminate the consumption of fossil fuels, which contribute to climate change. This idea gained some support during last year's climate talks but faced opposition from countries rich in oil and gas reserves.
The G7 summit in Hiroshima, Japan, is viewed as a test of the willingness among advanced economies to pursue such actions.
In a letter dated May 18, addressed to G7 leaders, presidents and prime ministers from the seven nations urged them to lead the efforts in achieving a global agreement to phase out fossil fuels.
"We must bring the fossil fuel era to an end and phase out fossil fuels. We call on you to take the lead and work with us to agree this at COP28," the letter stated, referring to this year's COP28 climate summit scheduled to commence on November 30 in Dubai.
The letter was also signed by leaders from New Zealand, as well as the small island states of the Marshall Islands, Palau, Saint Lucia, and Vanuatu. These island nations, which are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, have wielded significant influence in past U.N. climate negotiations.
The countries emphasized that the G7 should also support endeavors to establish new global targets for renewable energy and energy efficiency.
Although G7 climate ministers agreed last month to expedite "the phase-out of unabated fossil fuels," it remains uncertain whether their respective leaders will follow suit.
Some countries have indicated their willingness to allow the continued use of fossil fuels but with a focus on "phasing out fossil fuel emissions" by employing technologies that capture the resulting CO2 emissions, as suggested by Sultan al-Jaber, the incoming president of COP28 from the United Arab Emirates.
(Writing by Alex Guo Editing by Harry Huo)
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