Energy Ministers from the Group of Seven (G7) major democracies agreed to end the use of coal in power generation "during the first half of (the) 2030s. 

❖ Germany has written into its legislation a final target to shut coal plants by 2038 at the latest, while Japan has not set a date.

❖ The agreement on coal marks a significant step in the direction indicated last year by the COP28 United Nations climate summit to phase out fossil fuels.