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War Forces Germany to Put G-7 Coal Phaseout Push on Hold

  • Scholz’s spokesman says Russia’s attack has changed priorities
  • Japan resisted an early proposal to phase out coal by 2030
The Niederaussem lignite fueled power station, beyond a wind turbine in Bergheim Niederaussem, Germany.

The Niederaussem lignite fueled power station, beyond a wind turbine in Bergheim Niederaussem, Germany.

Photographer: Alex Kraus/Bloomberg
Updated on

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s government is backtracking from its Group of Seven agenda to push globally for a speedier exit from coal.

Steffen Hebestreit, the Chancellor’s chief spokesman, said Russia’s war in Ukraine cast doubt over the practicality of asking the world’s richest countries to end the use of coal. Germany is the current holder of the rotating presidency of the G-7 nations, which have taken the lead in pursuing sanctions against Russia.