TURIN, Italy — Energy ministers from the Group of Seven major democracies agreed on Tuesday to end the use of coal in power generation "during the first half of 2030s," according to an official communique.However, in a caveat, the statement included an alternative goal of phasing out coal-fired power plants "in a timeline consistent with keeping a limit of a 1.5°C temperature rise within reach, in line with countries' net-zero pathways.
"The caveat was included in the final wording of the communique to grant room for maneuver to Germany and Japan, whose coal-fired plants produce more than one-fourth of their total electricity, diplomatic sources had told Reuters.Germany has written into its legislation a final target to shut coal plants by 2038 at the latest, while Japan has not set a date.