TO THE HONORABLE G7 MINISTERS OF ENVIRONMENT OF:
CANADA, FRANCE, GERMANY, ITALY, JAPAN, THE UNITED KINGDOM AND THE UNITEDSTATES OF AMERICA
We, representatives of Climate Action Network, Kiko Network and Clean Lighting Coalition, arewriting to you ahead of the G7 Ministers' Meeting on Climate, Energy and Environment 2023 in
Sapporo, Japan. Representing a broad and diverse base of environmental organizations
worldwide and in Japan, we call upon you as G7 Leaders on Environment to support the global
phase-out of linear fluorescent lamps by 2025 as Parties to the Minamata Convention on
Mercury.
In October 2023, 140 Parties to the Minamata Convention have the opportunity to phase out linear
fluorescent lamps (LFLs) – the largest contributor to lighting-based mercury pollution in the world– at the fifth Conference of Parties (COP5). Transitioning to the more energy-efficient linear LED
lighting in 2025 would avoid 198 tonnes of mercury pollution from 2025 to 2050.
A new report from the Clean Lighting Coalition shows that a 2025 linear fluorescent phase out will
also avoid 3.3 Gt of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, US$1.34 trillion in electricity bills, and 9,602
TWh of energy consumption by 2050. Following the guidance set out in the technology plan in
the International Energy Agency’s Net Zero Emissions Scenario, and in support of the G7's 2022
commitment to “a fully or predominantly decarbonized power sector by 2035”, we call on G7
countries to shift all lighting sales to LED by 2025 and end the era of fluorescent lamps.
We are concerned about the submissions from Japan and Japan Lighting Manufacturers
Association (JLMA) favoring delayed phase-out dates which will result in costly losses to people
and the environment. The Clean Lighting Coalition report found that a two-year delay from 2025
to 2027 results in the global loss of 36 tons of avoidable mercury pollution and US$221 billion
dollars in electricity bill savings. A five-year delay to 2030 approximately doubles the lost savings,
amounting to 82 tons of mercury and over half a trillion dollars in higher electricity bills. In addition,
approximately 300 Mt of CO2 emissions are lost for each year of delay – equivalent to annual
CO2 emissions from fuel combustion in France. We call on G7 leaders to create an enabling
policy environment that advances a transition to clean lighting by 2025, instead ofcontinuing with a business-as-usual scenario that delays the transition another five years.
In conclusion, we urge the G7 Ministers of Climate, Energy, and Environment Meeting to actively
support efforts to phase out fluorescent lighting worldwide by 2025, through a decision at COP5of the Minamata Convention on Mercury in October. Transitioning to cost-effective, toxics-freeand energy-efficient LED lighting technologies is the lowest-hanging fruit in the fight against
climate change and mercury pollution. We, Climate Action Network, Kiko Network and Clean
Lighting Coalition, invite the G7 governments under your leadership to champion thetransition to a world of energy-efficient lighting free of mercury.

We also call on Japan to stop blocking the global transition to LEDs by either supportingthe 2025 global phase-out of fluorescent lamps or by applying for an exemption under the
Minamata Convention; enabling Parties of the Convention to protect the planet’s
environment and climate, and human health.
Yours sincerely,____________________________________________

Tasneem Essop
Executive Director
Climate Action Network
International

Ana Maria Carreño
Director
Clean Lighting Coalition