Skip to main content

Results of the G7 summit may make fossil fuels a thing of the past by 2100

We all know that many of the things we do for fun aren’t necessarily good for us, including our love of cars. While vehicle electrification and alternative fuel development has made large strides, many feel the emission regulation needs to be far stricter than they have been, and that is just what the world leaders at this year’s G7 summit agreed to do.

In their latest meeting, world leaders from seven countries — Canada, France, Italy, Germany, Japan, the United States, and the United Kingdom — as well as representatives from the European Union, declared they will use their influence to move away from fossil fuels by the end of the century.

Recommended Videos

Yes, that’s a while from now, but the summit declaration states that the group supports the goal of reducing emissions by as much as 70 percent in 2050.

Putting aside the need to secure a better future for generations to come, more personal concerns are that the effects of climate change are already rearing their ugly heads. Changing things soon should help mitigate the impact we’ve made. Furthermore, the G7 plans to influence the economy that give incentive to lean toward cleaner energy sources. Hitting that 2050 goal will mean that within the next 10 to 20 years, we’ll already start seeing changes.

All the petrol heads stockpiling fuel barrels for the bleak, combustion-free future, there’s some news that should put your mind at ease. While the G7 leaders certainly have influence, none of what they say are binding laws, so gas-powered cars aren’t going to be illegal anytime soon.

That being said, fossil fuel power has always had its days numbered, just like the fuel sources that preceded it, like coal. Take comfort in the fact that, after many of us have shuffled off, cars will still live on, and so will the love of driving, regardless of whats under the hood.

Alexander Kalogianni
Alex K is an automotive writer based in New York. When not at his keyboard or behind the wheel of a car, Alex spends a lot of…
Plug-in hybrids are becoming more popular. Why? And will it continue?
Kia Niro EV Charging Port

There's a lot of talk about the idea that the growth in electric car sales has kind of slowed a little. It's not all that surprising -- EVs are still expensive, early adopters all have one by now, and they're still new enough to where there aren't too many ultra-affordable used EVs available. But plenty of people still want a greener vehicle, and that has given rise to an explosion in hybrid vehicle sales.

That's especially true of plug-in hybrid vehicles, which can be charged like an EV and driven in all-electric mode for short distances, and have a gas engine as a backup for longer distances or to be used in combination with electric mode for more efficient driving.

Read more
EV drivers are not going back to gas cars, global survey says
ev drivers are not going back to gas cars global survey says screenshot

Nearly all current owners of electric vehicles (EVs) are either satisfied or very satisfied with the experience, and 92% of them plan to buy another EV, according to a survey by the Global EV Drivers Alliance.

The survey of 23,000 EV drivers worldwide found that only 1% would return to a petrol or diesel car, while 4% would opt for a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) if they had to replace their car.

Read more
Trump team in sync with Tesla on ending crash-reporting requirements, report says
Beta of Tesla's FSD in a car.

The transition team of President-elect Donald Trump is planning to end existing car-crash reporting requirements to safety regulators, according to a Reuters report.

The report cites a document obtained by Reuters that lays out the transition team’s 100-day strategy for automotive policy. In the document, the team says the crash-reporting requirement leads to “excessive” data collection, Reuters says.

Read more