Posted on June, 08 2015

(Elmau, Germany, 8 June 2015) -  In a critical year for climate change, the G7 meeting ended today with important political signals but few concrete commitments from the countries themselves.
 
“The course is right, but more speed, ambition and specific actions are needed,” says Samantha Smith, leader of WWF’s Global Climate and Energy Initiative.
 
With the deadline for a global climate agreement looming in December, the G7 were under pressure to show forward movement on the issue. “Though they left out the details, it is clear after this meeting that the days of fossil fuels and carbon pollution are numbered,” says Smith..
 
“G7 countries agreed to get most of the greenhouse gas emissions out of their national energy sectors by 2050 and they will also support global emissions cuts of 60-70% by 2050. More will be needed to avoid dangerous levels of climate change. There is only one way to meet the goals they agreed: Get out of fossil fuels as soon as possible and shift to renewable energy and energy efficiency.”
 
In a further show of support for renewables, G7 countries agreed to support a set of initiatives to expand renewable energy in developing countries, particularly in Africa. “Developing countries are ready to move fast and far on renewables, but they need finance and technology from rich countries to do it. We need to see more of these concrete commitments for immediate action and it is good that the G7 will support them. We also want to see them shifting investment towards low-carbon technologies in their own countries,” Smith says.
 
“WWF will be watching to be sure that these are more than just a stimulus program for G7 industry, but first and foremost focused on the needs of developing countries. We would want to see much more shifts in investment towards clean technology in the G7 countries as well.”
 
Many had expected more detail on climate finance commitments from the G7, who with other rich countries agreed in 2009 to provide 100 BN USD per year by 2020 as part of the negotiations towards a global agreement.
 
“The G7 reconfirmed their commitment to the 100 BN USD and said they were well on their way to achieving it. This is not enough. Five years after this commitment, we have seen just over 10BN USD committed. We would have liked the G7 to have provided certainty on finance as it is key to getting an agreement in Paris in December,” says Smith.
 
ends
  For further information, contact:
 
Mandy Jean Woods mwoods@wwf.org.za / @MandyJeanWoods  / +27 72 393 0027
Sam Smith ssmith@wwf.no  / @pandaclimate / +47 450 22 149
Sylvia Ratzlaff Sylvia.Ratzlaff@wwf.de
 
 
About WWF - WWF's mission is to stop the degradation of the earth's natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature. The Global Climate & Energy Initiative (GCEI) is WWF’s global programme addressing climate change, promoting renewable and sustainable energy, scaling up green finance, engaging the private sector and working nationally and internationally on implementing low carbon, climate resilient development.
 
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