G7 Renewable Energy Commitments Reinforced in Torino Meeting

Climate, Energy, and Environment Ministers from the Group of Seven (G7) nations convened in Torino, Italy, reaffirming their collective determination to uphold the commitments outlined in the Paris Agreement on climate change and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. 

The communiqué released after the meeting outlined the G7's strategy to accelerate their net-zero agenda while addressing crucial environmental and energy concerns.

The communiqué emphasized the urgency of keeping the 1.5°C goal within reach and highlighted the importance of submitting nationally determined contributions (NDCs) aligned with this target under the Paris Agreement. Additionally, the ministers pledged support for tripling global renewable energy capacity and doubling the energy efficiency rate by 2030, particularly in developing and vulnerable countries.

Key commitments outlined in the communiqué include the significant increase in the deployment of renewable energy, the promotion of diverse supply chains, and the enhancement of electricity systems' resilience and flexibility. The G7 ministers stressed the importance of collaboration and international support, especially in accelerating efforts towards net-zero emission energy systems and addressing issues such as industrial decarbonization, methane emissions, and phasing out inefficient fossil fuel subsidies.

The Climate Ministers committed to supporting tripling global renewable energy capacity and strengthening energy security by increasing system flexibility through demand response, grid reinforcement, and smart grid deployment, including contributing to a global goal for energy storage in the power sector of 1500 GW in 2030, a more than six-fold increase from 230 GW in 2022 including through existing targets and policies.

Bruce Douglas, CEO of the Global Renewables Alliance, welcomed the G7's endorsement of a global energy storage target. "We welcome the global energy storage target supported by G7 countries, which represents a six-fold increase by 2030. This sends a strong market signal for the direction of travel and is essential to the tripling of renewables. It’s now time for action to deliver on these ambitions for a clean, secure, and just energy future,” said Douglas.

Furthermore, the communiqué detailed commitments to international collaboration on various fronts, including supporting clean energy transitions in developing countries, reducing methane emissions, and ensuring climate finance aligns with the goals of the Paris Agreement.

The G7 consists of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK, and the US, with the European Union participating in discussions as a guest. The meeting concluded with the announcement of the G7 Water Coalition, aimed at addressing the global water crisis, and the declaration of support for the Agreement on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction.