(ANSA) - ROME, APR 30 - The G7 countries have committed to "phase out existing unabated coal power generation in our energy systems during the first half of 2030 or within a timeline consistent with keeping a limit of 1.5°C temperature rise within reach" read the final document of the meeting of G7 environment, energy and climate ministers in Turin.
    The G7 pledged to push for an end to the approval of new coal-fired electricity plants at the global level as soon as possible too.
    The group also committed to "support tripling global renewable energy capacity and strengthen energy security by increasing system flexibility through demand response, grid reinforcement, and smart grid deployment, including contributing to a global goal for energy storage in the power sector of 1500 GW in 2030, a more than six-fold increase from 230 GW in 2022 including through existing targets and policies".
    Italian Environment and Energy Security Minister Gilberto Pichetto said that this week's meeting formed a bridge between last year's COP 28 UN climate conference and this year's COP 29.
    "It was intense work, important work," said Pichetto at the end of the two-day meeting, which he chaired, with Italy holding the G7 duty presidency "This enabled us to vote with conviction this morning (for)...
    the achievement of the objective of taking a step forward compared to the COP 28 in Dubai - a bridging operation between COP 28 and COP 29 in Baku.
    "Naturally, with the G20 alongside us, this shows the importance of the leadership of the most industrialized countries in tackling climate change and reviewing their own paths".
    The G7 also said "those countries that are capable of contributing" should pay to help poorer countries face the climate crisis.
    "We recall that the new goal shall be set from a floor of USD 100 billion per year, taking into account the needs and priorities of developing countries," it said.
    "We recognise that the new goal is a unique opportunity to strengthen the international finance climate landscape in this critical decade and the need to develop a new goal that is fit-for-purpose and reflects a scaled up global effort in the mobilization of climate finance capturing evolved global circumstances, the dynamic nature of economic capabilities by mobilizing climate finance from a wide variety of sources, instruments and channels, including innovative sources".
    The two-day meeting at Turin's Palace of Venaria has been accompanied by protests at world leaders' failure to tackle the climate crisis caused by human greenhouse gas emissions by, among other things, phasing out the use of fossil fuels such as oil, gas and coal.
    Traffic was halted in the northern city on Sunday and images of United States President Joe Biden, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni were burned during the demonstrations.
    Protesters also smeared manure on the Turin prefecture. (ANSA).