G7 ministers agree to speed up renewable energy development -communique

SAPPORO -- The Group of Seven rich nations have agreed to speed up the development of renewable energy and called for reduced natural gas consumption as they aim to ramp up the phasing out of fossil fuels, the group said in a communique on Sunday. While members recognised the need to reduce gas consumption, however, they also said investment in the sector can help address potential energy shortfalls, the communique showed. Ministers from the G7 group of advanced democracies are gathering in the northern Japanese city of Sapporo for two days of meetings on climate, energy and environmental policy. The issues of renewable sources of fuel and energy security have taken on new urgency following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The issues of renewable sources of fuel and energy security have taken on new urgency following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.