Energy ministers from the Group of Seven (G7) major democracies agreed on Tuesday to end the use of coal in power generation during the first half of the next decade, but gave leeway to Germany and Japan whose economies depend on the fuel.
The agreement is a further step in the direction indicated last year by the COP28 United Nations climate summit to reduce use of fossil fuels, of which coal is the most polluting.
"It is the first time that a path and a target has been set on coal," said minister Gilberto Pichetto Fratin, who chaired the two-day meeting in a former royal residence near Turin, Reuters reported.
However, the G7 communique also included an alternative goal of phasing out coal-fired power plants "in a timeline consistent with keeping a limit of a 1.5°C temperature rise within reach, in line with countries' net-zero pathways".
Limiting temperature rises to 1.5 Celsius (2.7F) above pre-industrial levels, scientists have said, can prevent the most severe consequences of climate change.
The caveat, according to sources who requested anonymity, was included to grant room for manoeuvre to Germany and Japan.
In view of the impact of Russia's invasion on Ukraine on Europe's fuel security, it also offers flexibility in case of a new, unexpected conflict, Italy's energy minister told the closing news conference on Tuesday.
Support from many governments for strong climate action has faded as economic weakness has made them focus on the immediate cost and it remains to be seen how Germany and Japan will move to reduce the use of coal, which produces more than a quarter of their electricity.
Germany has written into its legislation a final target to shut coal plants by 2038, while the current government has expressed the will to phase out coal by 2030, and Japan has not set a date.
German Economy Ministry State Secretary Anja Hajduk told Reuters Tuesday's deal was an important achievement.
