Build back better? Pandemic sees G7 nations give billions more to fossil fuels than green energy

josh jackman
Written By
Updated on 29 September 2021

The countries in the G7 have ploughed £37 billion more into supporting the fossil fuel industry than the green energy sector during the COVID-19 pandemic, despite pledges to “build back better”.

Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK, and the US supported coal, gas, and oil to the tune of £134 billion between January 2020 and March 2021, compared to the £104 billion they dedicated to clean energy.

More than 80% of this fossil fuel funding was given without conditions for companies like airlines to cut their carbon emissions, meaning they can keep polluting the world without consequences.

The analysis from development charity Tearfund casts doubt on the idea that these nations – who are meeting for a G7 summit in Cornwall from 11-13 June – will follow through on commitments they’ve made to fight climate change.

The UK is one of the worst offenders.

The host of this year’s G7 summit has been praised for its promise to cut carbon emissions by 68% by 2030, and was the first to enshrine a net-zero target in law – but actions speak louder than words.

Boris Johnson’s government has dedicated £42 billion to supporting fossil fuels – more than any other G7 nation apart from the US – and only 4.7% of that figure comes with conditions designed to reduce carbon emissions.

In contrast, the UK has pledged £27.8 billion to green sources, of which 43.8% is conditional.

Yes, thankfully.

Japan is the star of the show, having committed 92% of its energy spending to green sources since January 2020, while Canada has also dedicated the majority of its expenditure – 54% – to clean energy.

France and Germany have given practically exactly the same amounts to both fossil fuels and clean energy.

But the US, the UK, and Italy have all let the world down.

The US and the UK have spent more on coal, gas, and oil than the rest of the G7 combined, while Italy dedicated 81% of their energy expenditure to fossil fuels.

There’s no reason why these nations – which respectively rank first, fifth, and eighth for GDP (Gross Domestic Product) – shouldn’t commit to green energy to the same level Japan (ranked third) and Canada (ninth) have, and dump fossil fuels in the process.

Written by

josh jackman

Josh has written about and reported on eco-friendly home improvements and climate change for the past four years.

His data-driven work has featured on the front page of the Financial Times and in publications including The Independent, Telegraph, Times, Sun, Daily Express, and Fox News, earned him the position of resident expert in BT's smart home tech initiative, and been referenced in official United Nations and World Health Organisation documents.

He’s also been interviewed on BBC One's Rip-Off Britain, BBC Radio 4, and BBC Radio 5 Live as an expert on everything from renewable energy to government policy and space travel's carbon footprint, and regularly attends Grand Designs Live as a Green Living Expert, giving bespoke advice to members of the public about heat pumps and solar panels.

Josh has also used the journalistic skills he developed at The Jewish Chronicle and PinkNews to investigate and analyse every green government grant in existence, and examine the impact on the climate of cryptocurrency, Glastonbury Festival, and the World Cup.

You can get in touch with Josh via email.

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