SHARE
COPY LINK

ENERGY

France blames Russia for G20 failure on fossil fuels

France on Sunday blamed Russia, after the G20 failed to agree on a roadmap to phase down the global use of fossil fuels during a meeting of energy ministers in India.

France blames Russia for G20 failure on fossil fuels
French Minister for Energy Transition Agnes Pannier-Runacher arrives for a cabinet meeting (Conseil des Ministres) at the Elysee Palace in Paris on July 21, 2023. Photo: Bertrand GUAY/AFP.

France on Sunday blamed Russia, after the G20 failed to agree on a roadmap to phase down the global use of fossil fuels during a meeting of energy ministers in India.

A final statement after the meeting on Saturday, does not even mention coal, a major contributor to global warming.

Explaining the stalemate, G20 president India said that some members had emphasised the importance of seeking a “phase down of unabated fossil fuels, in line with different national circumstances”.

But “others had different views on the matter that abatement and removal technologies will address such concerns,” it added.

France’s minister of energy transition on Sunday pointed the finger of blame at Russia.

“I profoundly regret that there was no common declaration at the end of this meeting, notably because of Russia,” Agnes Pannier-Runacher told AFP.

The G20 failure to agree the roadmap came despite G7 leaders agreeing in Hiroshima in May to “accelerate the phase-out of unabated fossil fuels”.

A coalition of key EU economies — including Germany and France — and some of the most vulnerable island states this week urged the G20 group of wealthy nations to accelerate plans to reach net zero emissions and phase out fossil fuels, adding: “Humankind cannot afford to delay”.

But many developing economies argue that the developed West must pay more as a legacy polluter and greenhouse contributor.

They insist that any transition needs huge capital and new technology, while giving up on polluting fuels without affordable alternatives will condemn their huge populations to poverty.

Member comments

Log in here to leave a comment.
Become a Member to leave a comment.

ENERGY

Gas bills to rise by over 11% in France in July

For households that use gas for heating, cooking or hot water, bills will go up again in July as regulators increase tariffs.

Gas bills to rise by over 11% in France in July

Starting on July 1st, gas bills will increase for the 10.5 million households in France which either heat with gas or use it for cooking and hot water.

France’s energy regulatory commission (Commission de régulation de l’énergie, or CRE) announced on Monday that the estimated increase for the benchmark price in June to July would be 11.7 percent. 

The price increase is related general market trends, but it also has to do with French consumption of gas dropping.

“We are witnessing the gradual exit from fossil fuels, with some consumers switching to electricity. In the meantime, those who remain on gas are fewer in number, but they must bear the costs,” Jacques Percebois, an economist with a speciality in energy, told Ouest France.

In France, the price one pays for gas includes the cost per kilowatt of consumption, taxes and the cost of delivery, with the base rate set by the regulator.

How much will my bills increase by?

The average household in France consumes 1,123kWh of gas per month, giving them a current monthly bill of around €124.

With the price increase, this bill will go up by about €14.80, with a little over half of that owing to the cost of distribution and about a third due to the increase in prices on wholesale markets, according to Ouest France’s calculations.

For those only using gas for cooking and hot water, the average monthly bill would go up from €20 to €23.30 a year.

Ultimately, the exact amount your bill will go up by will depend on your supplier, although companies tend to have broadly similar tariffs. 

Will the cost keep going up?

Experts expect the benchmark price to increase again by approximately 10 percent in August. However, it is also worth noting that expected prices dropped between February and June, according to MoneyVox.

SHOW COMMENTS