A Look Back at the Climate Headlines of the Week: April 17-21 | Earth.Org

In this week's summary, we highlight important climate developments from the past seven days. These include the recently settled agreement by the G7 ministers in Sapporo, Japan; intricate information regarding the EU's latest climate agenda with high targets; and Germany's proposal to prohibit gas and oil heating systems by the following year.

G7 Ministers Establish Ambitious Goals for Wind and Solar Expansion, but Neglect to Outline a Clear Plan for Phasing Out Coal.

The environment ministers of G7 decided on Sunday to quicken the switch to power sources like solar and wind. They pledged to speed up the expansion of renewable energy but didn't set a specific schedule for secluding fossil fuels. Climate specialists think that a timeline for fossil fuel phaseout is crucial in order to restrict the rise in temperature on a worldwide scale.

The Group of Seven ministers from the biggest economies recently gathered in Sapporo, Japan to discuss their plans to support and spread the use of renewable energy while decreasing its expenses. They agreed on multiple initiatives such as an expansion of offshore wind production to reach 150 gigawatts and a solar capacity increase to more than 1 terawatt by the year 2030, as stated in the official announcement released after the two-day summit.

The ministers confirmed that they are still dedicated to reducing the amount of carbon in the power sector by 2035, specifically through reducing coal usage. They have requested that other nations also work towards ending the creation of new coal-fired power generation systems without any carbon capture, and to do so as fast as possible. However, they did not give their approval for the 2030 deadline that Canada and some other countries had suggested.

The group also gave their approval to investing in gas, but only if it aligns with their climate goals and won't lead to long-term dependency. This is because they recognize the advantages of gas investment in addressing the current energy crisis. As a country affected by energy scarcity, Japan intends to make use of liquified natural gas (LNG) as a temporary fuel for ten years to come.

Power Environmental Organizations File Lawsuit Against the EU for Allowing Gas and Nuclear Energy to be Labeled as "Green"

On Tuesday, Greenpeace alongside other advocacy organizations are bringing a case against the European Commission to the European Court of Justice. The reason for taking this step is because of the bloc's recent ruling that declared nuclear energy and natural gas as investments that promote the fight against climate change.

The Taxonomy Delegated Act became effective on January 1st. Last July, it was authorized after the European Parliament determined natural gas and nuclear energy as eco-friendly energy sources. The Commission's suggestion was opposed by 278 MEPs but it did not reach the required absolute majority of 353 MEPs to reject it.

The EU has previously encountered legal objections regarding the disputed resolution.

Austria brought a legal case to the European Union Court in October, seeking to cancel the controversial portrayal of the taxonomy. Leonore Gewessler, the country's climate action minister, stated that the ruling was reckless and illogical, and that it was dishonest to refer to gas as "green" when it is a fossil fuel that contributes to climate change through its greenhouse gas emissions. This erroneous labeling is misleading to both consumers and investors, according to her.

The European Union Endorses Major Changes to its Most Significant Climate Policies to Meet 2030 Objectives

On Tuesday, the European Parliament gave its approval on three extensive laws to achieve more ambitious climate policies within the EU. These laws include updated regulations for imported goods with high carbon emissions and changes to the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS). However, the vote faced opposition from some MEPs, including the French Green Party, who raised concerns about potential public backlash against increasing energy expenses.

On Tuesday, the agreements granted are a fragment of the "Fit for 55 in 2030 package," which is the bloc's proposal to diminish the discharge of greenhouse gases by a minimum of 55% towards the conclusion of the decade as compared to the emission rate during 1990, following the European Climate Law.

"Germany's Prohibition on Installing New Oil and Gas Heating Systems Starting 2024"

Germany's leading coalition has approved a bill that will ban the installation of new oil and gas heating systems by 2024. From that year onwards, households will need to run these systems using 65% renewable energy sources. However, the bill has caused significant controversy as opposition parties argue it will create financial strain on low- and middle-income homeowners. The bill features exemptions, transitional periods, and subsidies for low-income households. The decision came after 30 hours of negotiations.

To be more precise, if someone has an oil or gas heating system in their home that works well, they can keep using and even fix it if there are any issues. But, if the system has been running for 30 years or more, they need to get a new one.

The latest move aims to hasten the shift towards green energy sources such as heat pumps, solar panels, and hydrogen boilers. This initiative is regarded as a vital stride towards reducing reliance on imported natural gas and attaining carbon neutrality by 2045.

April Heatwave Sets New Records in Asia, Resulting in Fatalities and School Shutdowns

Severe heatwaves, breaking previous records, are currently affecting more than a third of the global population. This has led to the loss of a dozen lives in the Indian subcontinent and forced some states to shut down schools as a precautionary measure.

According to Maximiliano Herrera, a climatologist and weather historian, the current heatwave is the most severe one in the history of Asia during the month of April. It is affecting more than twelve countries in Asia and has already caused record-breaking temperature readings in multiple Southeast Asian countries.

Although some Asian countries are accustomed to heat waves during this time of the year, experts have confirmed that global warming has caused these weather phenomena to occur more often, at a higher intensity, and for longer periods in recent times. The World Weather Attribution has made it clear that the unprecedented temperatures recorded last year were caused by climate change, which was, in turn, caused by humans. They estimate that these temperatures were 30 times more likely to happen than if climate change had not occurred.