Under the impact of the climate and energy crisis, the seven major western industrialized countries (G7) want to promote the phase-out of climate-damaging fossil fuels.

Electricity generation and the transport sector are to be largely decarbonized in the coming years, and coal-fired power generation is to be completely phased out: the energy, climate and environment ministers of the G7 group agreed on this on Friday during their deliberations in Berlin.

The final declaration mentions some target dates - but it remains vague on important points.

The power supply is to be “predominantly” decarbonized by 2035.

No date has been given for the planned end of coal-fired power generation.

According to the statement, the transport sector is to be "highly" decarbonized by 2030 - including through a "significant" increase in the share of zero-emission vehicles.

Climate protection should be promoted

"Decarbonization" means that the emission of climate-damaging CO2 gas is throttled.

It is formed when fossil fuels such as coal, oil or natural gas are burned.

In the joint communiqué, the G7 commit to ending direct international public financing of fossil fuels by the end of 2022.

However, the obligation includes exceptions in limited cases if these are in line with the Paris Climate Agreement.

In the final declaration, the G7 states also undertake not to neglect climate protection, despite the difficult situation resulting from the war in Ukraine, but to push ahead with it.

As the G7, they expressly recognize for the first time that they must provide more support to vulnerable countries in dealing with the damage and losses caused by climate change.

Climate financing for adaptation in developing countries by 2025 is to be doubled together with other countries.

The energy, climate and environment ministers of the G7 group took part in the two-day meeting in Berlin.

This format was a first.

The aim of the German hosts was to deal with the climate crisis and the energy crisis together.

The conference took place on the Euref campus in Berlin, a model district for climate-neutral and resource-saving urban development.