Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj took part in the G7 summit at Schloss Elmau via video link on Monday. The Ukraine war is the central topic of the deliberations of the heads of state and government of the seven most important democratic industrial nations under the direction of Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz. The topics of climate, energy and health are also on the agenda on the second day of the meeting. The events here in the Newsblog.
In the fight against climate change, the G7 states want to work more intensively on solutions together with their partner countries Argentina, India, Indonesia, Senegal and South Africa. The goal is to “accelerate a clean and just transition to carbon neutrality while ensuring energy security,” according to a statement released Monday.
Together, options for a “rapid expansion of clean and renewable energy sources and energy efficiency” would be examined.
The participants reaffirmed their commitment to the goal of the Paris climate agreement to keep the temperature rise well below two degrees and to limit it to 1.5 degrees if possible. The phasing out of coal and the expansion of clean and renewable energies must be “socially fair”, it said. In addition, “universal access to affordable and sustainable energy” is also important.
Together, “possible negative impacts should be addressed,” the statement said. The aim must also be to achieve “the creation of new decent green jobs” in the field of renewable energies.
Partnerships in the development of infrastructure and investments could also contribute to the goals of an “open and inclusive climate club”. This project by Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) provides for an alliance of countries that set themselves ambitious climate goals.
Greenpeace spoke of weak announcements. “There is a lack of binding targets for phasing out fossil fuels in the sense of the 1.5 degree limit, as well as a clear financial framework,” explained the executive director of the German branch of the organization, Martin Kaiser. The political director of Germanwatch, Christoph Bals, sees potential. “In particular, the partnership with India, which should be completed by the G20 summit next year, can become extremely relevant.” Friederike Röder from Global Citizen complained: “This declaration is brimming with vague statements.” You can feel the turmoil in the negotiations . The G7 would have to provide money for such partnerships. (AFP, DPA)
On June 26, CNN correspondent Frederik Pleitgen reported on a protest march in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, where demonstrators showed solidarity with Russia. Ukraine was accused there of fueling the conflict. The US was the main aggressor, it was claimed at the demo.
