Four Ways the G7 Can Show Leadership on Fossil Fuel Phase-Out

This briefing by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) outlines four strategic areas where G7 nations can demonstrate leadership to accelerate the global phase-out of fossil fuels. It argues that the G7 should set a 2030 deadline for coal phase-out, implement the removal of fossil fuel subsidies, end international public finance for fossil fuels, and commit to ending new oil and gas production to align with the 1.5°C warming limit.

• The G7 should commit to phasing out coal power generation by 2030 at the latest. While G7 leaders previously committed to decarbonizing electricity systems by 2035, a specific phase-out date for coal is missing. The European Union, the United States, and Japan are reported to oppose such a pledge.
• G7 nations need to implement their long-standing commitment to phase out fossil fuel subsidies, which reached an all-time high of over USD 1 trillion in 2022. The IISD recommends that the G7 remove the qualifier "inefficient" from their pledges to reduce uncertainty and submit annual subsidy inventories through the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) indicator 12.c.1 process.
• The G7 must fulfill its commitment to end international public finance for the unabated fossil fuel energy sector, which could redirect USD 24.3 billion annually toward clean energy. While Canada, France, and the United Kingdom have implemented such policies, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the United States have not yet published them.
• To limit global warming to 1.5°C, the G7 should affirm the need to stop new oil and gas production, as the International Energy Agency's NZE scenario indicates no room for new fields. Production must decrease by at least 65% by 2050. The G7 is advised to oppose proposals, such as those from Japan, to recognize the need for upstream investments in natural gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG).

APA

Jones,, N. (2023). Four Ways the G7 Can Show Leadership on Fossil Fuel Phase-Out. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/articles/insight/g7-leadership-fossil-fuel-phase-out

Chicago

Jones,, Natalie. Four Ways the G7 Can Show Leadership on Fossil Fuel Phase-Out. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2023. https://www.iisd.org/articles/insight/g7-leadership-fossil-fuel-phase-out.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Jones, |first1=Natalie |title=Four Ways the G7 Can Show Leadership on Fossil Fuel Phase-Out |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=13 April 2023 |url=https://www.iisd.org/articles/insight/g7-leadership-fossil-fuel-phase-out |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{jones2023four, author = {Jones,, Natalie}, title = {{Four Ways the G7 Can Show Leadership on Fossil Fuel Phase-Out}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2023}, month = apr, url = {https://www.iisd.org/articles/insight/g7-leadership-fossil-fuel-phase-out}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }