A Recap of the Week: Major Climate News Highlights for April 17-21 from Earth.Org

Every week, we gather the most significant climate news from the past seven days. This time, we are reporting on the conclusion of the G7 ministers' meeting in Sapporo, Japan, as they reached their final agreement. Likewise, we bring you more information about the recently approved and highly ambitious climate agenda of the EU. Also, we have an update on Germany's proposal to outlaw gas and oil heating systems by next year.

"G7 Ministers establish ambitious goals for wind and solar growth but fall short on providing a timeline for coal phase-out."

During the meeting of the G7 environment ministers over the weekend, a consensus was reached to speed up the shift towards renewable energy sources. This involves a swift increase in the use of solar and wind power. However, there was no definite schedule set for the phasing out of fossil fuels which is considered necessary by climate specialists to keep the rise in global temperatures under control.

The Group of Seven ministers, hailing from the biggest economies worldwide, have promised to bolster renewable energy efforts across the globe and minimize expenses in a statement following their two-day summit in Sapporo, Japan. They have vowed to raise offshore wind capacity by 150 gigawatts and provide more than 1 terawatt of solar energy by 2030.

During the meeting, the ministers restated their determination to decarbonize the power industry entirely or mainly by 2035, urging other nations to eliminate new uncontrolled coal-fired power projects "at the earliest opportunity." However, they did not support a 2030 cutoff point that some countries, such as Canada, had advocated.

They supported investing in gas, with the caveat that it must align with our climate goals and avoid creating long-term impacts. This is due to the potential benefits it can have in averting gaps caused by the energy crisis. Japan, a country with limited energy resources, intends to utilize Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) as a temporary solution for the next ten years.

Power Environmental organizations file a lawsuit against the EU regarding the issuance of eco-friendly labels for gas and nuclear power.

On Tuesday, the European Commission will be challenged in the European Court of Justice by Greenpeace and other advocacy organizations. This challenge pertains to the labeling of nuclear energy and natural gas as investments that are environmentally-friendly for the bloc, which is being deemed as unsuitable.

The implementation of the Taxonomy Delegated Act started on January 1. This Act was authorized in July when the European Parliament decided to recognize natural gas and nuclear energy as environmentally beneficial energy sources. However, there were 278 MEPs who opposed the Commission's proposal, which was not enough to stop it. A veto would have required the support of 353 MEPs or more.

The EU has been under legal scrutiny before for their contentious resolution.

Austria took legal action in October by filing a case at the European Union Court in order to reverse the controversial classification system. Leonore Gewessler, the country's Climate Action Minister, criticized the ruling by describing it as "reckless" and "illogical". Furthermore, she pointed out that it was "deceptive" to characterize gas, which contributes to climate change due to its carbon emissions, as environmentally friendly for consumers and stakeholders.

"EU Gives Green Light to Revamp Major Climate Policies for Achieving 2030 Targets"

On Tuesday, the European Parliament passed three extensive regulations aimed at increasing the ambition of EU climate policies. These include new guidelines for the importation of high-carbon goods and a revision of the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS). Some MEPs, including the French Green Party, expressed their concerns, stating that it might trigger resistance to the increases in energy expenses among the public.

On Tuesday, the agreements that were given the green light are a crucial aspect of the "Fit for 55 in 2030 package". This package is the European Union's initiative to decrease greenhouse gas emissions by a minimum of 55% before the close of the decade in 2030 when compared to the emission levels of 1990. This initiative is aligned with the European Climate Law.

"Germany to Prohibit Installation of New Oil and Gas Heating Systems Starting 2024"

Germany's ruling coalition has finally approved a bill that will put an end to the installation of new oil and gas heating systems by 2024. Instead, these systems will have to be powered by 65% renewable energy. The decision came after 30 hours of negotiations. Although, the new bill includes exceptions, transition periods, and subsidies for low-income households, it has been heavily criticised by opposition parties who believe it will bring huge financial burdens on ordinary homeowners.

In particular, if a household has an oil or gas heating system that is operating efficiently and has been installed correctly, they can continue to use it and mend any issues if necessary. Nevertheless, if the system has been functioning for over 30 years, the owner is required to replace it.

The latest initiative is designed to accelerate the adjustment toward using heat pumps, solar panels, and hydrogen boilers that operate on renewable energy. This action is considered an essential component in decreasing our reliance on imported natural gas and meeting the goal of carbon neutrality by 2045.

April Heatwave Smashes Records in Asia, Resulting in Fatalities and School Shutdowns.

Right now, a significant portion of the global population is enduring extreme high temperatures, which have surpassed previous records in several parts of Asia. The excessive heat has resulted in the loss of at least 12 lives across the Indian subcontinent and has forced certain states to shut down schools.

The dangerous period of high temperatures, labeled by climate expert and historical weather analyst Maximiliano Herrera as the most extreme April heatwave to occur in Asia, has affected over 12 nations throughout the continent. The heatwave has already shattered previous records with numerous Southeast Asian countries reporting their hottest recorded temperatures this week.

Although heatwaves are common during this time of year in many Asian countries, experts agree that global warming is responsible for them becoming more frequent, severe, and lasting longer lately. The World Weather Attribution has revealed that last year's unprecedented high temperatures were at least 30 times more probable due to human-made climate change.