PARIS/BRUSSELS -- European countries aim to lead the rest of the world in decarbonization efforts, and are aiming to make progress on global warming measures at the 26th U.N. Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in November. They are accelerating their moves partly due to dissatisfaction expressed by environmental protection groups and others after the summit of leaders of the Group of Seven major countries in mid-June, at which they failed to announce drastic measures for curbing greenhouse gas emissions.
-- Activists want more
G7 leaders stipulated a goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to "net zero" by 2050 in the statement for their summit meeting, which concluded on June 13.
Praising the stance at a press conference after the summit ended, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said, "G7 countries account for 20% of global carbon emissions, and we were clear ... that action has to start with us."
The G7 leaders' statement also stipulated that public assistance to coal-powered thermal power plants that do not take sufficient measures to reduce carbon emissions should be prohibited, in principle.
However, environmental protection groups have expressed discontent, as the statement did not mention the total abolition of such power plants, a goal that European countries aim to realize. Nor did it touch on such matters as practical measures to shift to electric-powered vehicles.
Britain's BBC reported, "Leaders pledge climate action but disappoint activists."
European countries are touting the slogan "green recovery" regarding their efforts to rejuvenate their economies after the impact of the novel coronavirus pandemic. They seek to implement economic measures that will prioritize dealing with climate change.
In November last year, Britain announced measures to cope with climate change, including prohibiting new car sales of gasoline-powered and diesel-powered vehicles by 2030.
The French government aims to switch from short-distance flights to long-distance trains as a form of transportation. In May, France resumed night trains connecting Paris and Nice in southern France.
The European Union has also encouraged the construction of offshore wind power plants. Last year, the percentage of electric power output from renewable energy sources in the EU surpassed for the first time that of power plants using fossil fuels.
The EU plans to allocate part of its economic reconstruction fund to related projects.
-- U.S. return raises hopes
At the G7 summit, leaders indicated hope for future efforts. This was largely due to U.S. President Joe Biden replacing former President Donald Trump, who openly called global warming a "hoax," and the United States' return to the Paris Agreement, an international framework to prevent global warming.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel emphatically said she was glad that the United States had once again committed to the Paris Agreement, which would help the G7's efforts.
The focus of attention will now shift to COP26.
At the press conference on June 13, Johnson said COP26 will "galvanize global action on fighting climate change and create a healthy planet for our children and grandchildren." He added that the G7 leaders are "helping developing countries at the same time."
Britain, which also chairs COP26, plans to accelerate domestic measures and strengthen its presence in the field of environmental protection.
Total abolition of coal-powered thermal power plants may be discussed again at COP26. European counties will likely pressure Japan and other nations on the issue.
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