Greenpeace study reveals G7 countries’ ability to reduce gas consumption by 18 percent in 3 years

May 27, 2022

Our global leaders must weaken the war machine and combat the climate crisis by ramping up the production and deployment of renewable energy, not locking us into dirty, polluting fossil fuels.

© Branko Drakulic / Greenpeace

Berlin, 27 May 2022 – A new Greenpeace Germany study shows that by 2025 the G7 countries would be able to reduce their gas consumption by 18 percent – without turning to nuclear power, biomass, or coal, and without decreasing industrial production. This exceeds Russia’s annual oil and gas exports.

Greenpeace Germany climate expert Lisa Göldner says: “The G7 countries can cut back their gas consumption significantly, which would protect the climate and help make the world a safer place. It is time that the G7 countries show the world that they take the 1.5-degree target seriously and are willing to forge ahead, away from fossil fuels and toward renewables.”

Anusha Narayanan, climate campaign director at Greenpeace U.S.A. says: “This Greenpeace Germany study proves that renewable energy and efficiency technologies can replace Russian fossil fuels. Our global leaders must weaken the war machine and combat the climate crisis by ramping up the production and deployment of renewable energy, not locking us into dirty, polluting fossil fuels.” 

By 2025, G7 countries could reduce gas consumption enough to surpass Russia’s annual exports.

The study revealed an overall annual gas savings potential of 264 billion cubic meters in the G7 countries. This volume exceeds that of Russia’s total annual gas exports. The most critical steps to achieve this cutback are an installation initiative for heat pumps, wind, and solar energy; and measures to increase energy efficiency. In the industrial sector, a switch to large heat pumps and solar thermal offers considerable gas savings potential. So far, individual G7 countries have replaced Russian gas primarily with other fossil sources, such as by increasing their imports of LNG, rather than focusing on the urgently needed shift toward renewables. 

“The G7 must stop their gas, coal, and oil imports from Russia as quickly as possible and switch their entire energy production to renewables by 2035. This is the only way we can avert the worst consequences of the climate crisis and stop financing Putin’s war chest,” says Lisa Göldner.

For Greenpeace U.S.A. media inquiries please contact Senior Communications Specialist, Rocio Estrada Snowdy, [email protected], 301-592-7700

For Greenpeace Germany media inquiries Lisa Göldner, 0151-11633674, or media contact Mirja Schneemann, 0160-7002848.

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