G7 countries’ commitment to clean electricity is landmark

CALGARY, AB — Binnu Jeyakumar, Director of Clean Energy at the Pembina Institute, made the following statement in response to the Communique by the G7 nations, in which they committed to “predominantly decarbonized” electricity sectors by 2035:

“This is a landmark moment, with all G7 countries committing to make their electricity grids near-zero emissions by 2035, and in particular phase-out coal-fired generation. Governments are continuing to prioritize deep decarbonization plans for their economies, with increased emphasis on guaranteeing long-term energy security, in light of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the recent price volatility associated with fossil fuels.

Canada has already made good progress and is on track for phasing out coal by 2030. We now need government to keep up this momentum by tackling issues key to further decarbonizing the grid — such as reducing gas-fired power, scaling up of affordable and proven clean energy technologies, and taking steps to enable grid flexibility. Critically, Canada needs to deliver a credible and robust Clean Electricity Standard this year, which will set its path to achieving its commitment of a net-zero grid by 2035. This is a crucial step in making sure our electricity grid is ready to produce the clean power we will rely on for generations to come.”

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