On May 1st to 2nd 2016, the G7 Energy Ministers together with the European Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy met at Kitakyushu, Japan to discuss developments since their 2015 Hamburg meeting, especially against the background of volatile energy prices and the Paris Agreement.
They issued a joint statement for Leaders’ consideration in light of the upcoming G7 Summit which will take place in Ise Shima on May 26-27 2016.
In their statement, the Ministers highlighted the need for further investment in the energy sector “including quality infrastructure, innovation in renewable energy and other low-carbon technologies”. They reiterated their strong support for “Mission Innovation”, which was launched at the COP21 in order to accelerate widespread clean energy innovation. In this regard, they also reaffirmed that the deployment of clean energy technologies and enhancement of research and development of innovative technologies are crucial and that the G7 have to play a leading role in this endeavor.
Calling energy efficiency, as part of comprehensive energy sustainability, “key to decarbonisation of our economies”, the Ministers also emphasized the strong interconnection between energy efficiency and resource efficiency and therefore the importance of simultaneous improvement.
Together, these measures should help build the economy while decoupling economic growth from carbon emissions. They therefore committed themselves to further enhance a secure and sustainable energy supply, as this is “essential to mitigate risks to the future growth of the global economy.”
With their commitment to energy security, the Energy Ministers also called attention to the geostrategic dimensions of energy resources:
“Well-functioning and transparent markets, diversified energy fuels, sources and routes, enhanced energy efficiency and improved energy system resilience are all necessary for furthering energy security. In the context of the ongoing crisis between Russia and Ukraine, we reiterate that energy should not be used as a means of political coercion, nor as a threat to security. We remain committed to support Ukraine and other countries vulnerable to energy supply disruptions to pursue resilient and fully competitive energy systems.”
They further welcomed the adoption of the Paris Agreement and encouraged all Parties to sign and ratify it as soon as possible, also emphasising the important role of the energy system in the successful implementation of the Agreement.
The European Green Deal has made the environment and climate change the focus of EU action. Indeed, climate change impacts are already increasing the pressure on states and societies; however, it is not yet clear how the EU can engage on climate security and environmental peacemaking. In this light, and in the run-up to the German EU Council Presidency, adelphi and its partners are organising a roundtable series on “Climate, environment, peace: Priorities for EU external action in the decade ahead”.
In January 2020, the German Federal Foreign Office launched Green Central Asia, a regional initiative on climate and security in Central Asia and Afghanistan. The aim of the initiative is to support a dialogue in the region on climate change and associated risks in order to foster regional integration between the six countries involved.
Climate change will shift key coordinates of foreign policy in the coming years and decades. Even now, climate policy is more than just environment policy; it has long since arrived at the centre of foreign policy. The German Foreign Office recently released a report on climate diplomacy recognizing the biggest challenges to security posed by climate change and highlighting fields of action for strengthening international climate diplomacy.
A high-level ministerial conference in Berlin is looking at the impact of climate change on regional security in Central Asia. The aim is to foster stronger regional cooperation, improve the exchange of information and form connections with academia and civil society.