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VW CEO Chides G-7 Leaders for Failing to Set Coal Phase-Out Date

G-7 leaders attend a round-table summit in Carbis Bay, U.K. on June 11. The group backed away from setting a firm date to stop burning coal. — G-7 leaders attend a round-table summit in Carbis Bay, U.K. on June 11. The group backed away from setting a firm date to stop burning coal.
Photographer: Leon Neal/AFP/Bloomberg

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By Christoph Rauwald and Craig Trudell

June 15, 2021 at 8:25 AM UTC

This article is for subscribers only.

Volkswagen AG’s chief executive officer criticized Group of Seven leaders for failing to set a firm date to phase out coal power, saying it’s senseless to let electric vehicles run on dirty energy.

“That’s not enough, @G7. Disappointing outcome,” VW CEO Herbert Diess tweeted Tuesday. “We need to exit coal much earlier! EVs are key to reach the climate goals 2030. But EVs only make sense with green energy, letting EVs run on coal is regulatory nonsense.”