G7 Far From Meeting 2030 Renewable Energy Tripling Target, Ember Report Warns

As the world grapples with the urgent need to combat climate change, a recent report from Ember reveals that G7 nations are falling short of their commitment to triple renewable energy capacity by 2030. 

Despite pledges made at COP28 to increase renewable energy adoption, current efforts by G7 members would only result in a doubling of capacity, leaving a substantial gap to meet the ambitious tripling target.

The 2023 G7 Ministerial Meeting on Climate, Energy, and Environment saw member nations reaffirm their dedication to the Paris Agreement and the critical goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. However, concrete actions to support this commitment have not materialized, with renewable energy targets remaining stagnant since COP28.

As the 2024 G7 Ministers’ Meeting on Climate, Energy, and Environment convenes in Italy from April 28-30, the spotlight is on G7 leaders to demonstrate leadership and accelerate efforts to meet global renewable energy goals. Failure to do so not only undermines the collective pledge but also jeopardizes the broader objective of combating climate change.

Ember's 2030 Global Renewable Target Tracker highlights the stark reality facing G7 nations. Currently, the collective target falls short by 0.7 TW of achieving the desired tripling of renewable energy capacity. Despite commendable efforts by countries like Germany, the UK, and Italy, whose 2030 targets exceed a doubling of capacity, others such as France and Japan lag. "Germany, the UK, and Italy, this year’s host of the G7, are leading the way with 2030 targets that are more than a doubling of 2022 capacity. However, France and Japan are lagging behind their G7 partners with targets well below a tripling," the report said.

The absence of explicit renewable energy targets from the US and Canada poses additional challenges. While both countries have begun scaling up wind and solar installations, their lack of official targets leaves uncertainty regarding their commitment to the tripling goal. Canada, in particular, faces scrutiny for its modest renewable energy ambitions and low penetration of wind and solar energy compared to other G7 nations. 

Despite these challenges, there are glimmers of hope as some G7 members demonstrate the potential to meet their targets through annual renewable energy additions. Canada, for instance, has consistently added renewable capacity in recent years, indicating the feasibility of ramping up efforts to achieve its goals.