German Government Slammed For Supporting New Natural Gas Infrastructure

German Government , Slammed For Supporting New , Natural Gas Infrastructure.

On May 22, Germany rejected accusations that it weakened existing commitments to phase out natural gas at a summit of Group of Seven (G7) leaders.

On May 22, Germany rejected accusations that it weakened existing commitments to phase out natural gas at a summit of Group of Seven (G7) leaders.

Fox News reports that the German government said that their stance remains consistent with international climate efforts.

Fox News reports that the German government said that their stance remains consistent with international climate efforts.

Activists have criticized leaders' decision to support construction of new liquefied natural gas infrastructure, facilitating the use of a planet-warming fossil fuel.

The G7 said that "investment in the sector can be appropriate in response to the current crisis and to address potential gas market shortfalls provoked" by Russia's attack on Ukraine.

In the exceptional circumstance of accelerating the phase-out of our dependency on Russian energy, publicly supported investment in the gas sector can be appropriate as a temporary response, G7 statement, via NBC.

According to Greenpeace's Tracy Carty, support for new infrastructure for fossil fuel "is a blunt denial of the climate emergency.".

Fossil gas is one of the most polluting forms of energy and in its liquefied form, its carbon emissions can be as bad as coal, Tracy Carty, Greenpeace representative, via NBC.

Meanwhile, Friederike Roeder of the campaign group Global Citizen suggests that Germany's role in the G7 talks were "particularly disappointing.".

Meanwhile, Friederike Roeder of the campaign group Global Citizen suggests that Germany's role in the G7 talks were "particularly disappointing.".

The EU’s role in international climate diplomacy is critical but if Germany, as the biggest member state, continues to focus its negotiation power on new gas investments rather than leading the way for a future free of fossil fuels, this won’t be possible, Friederike Roeder, Global Citizen representative, via NBC.

NBC reports that G7 leaders also expressed support for the roll-out of renewable power generation and other energy saving measures