BERLIN (AA) – The G-7 group of the world’s major economic powers has decided to establish an international Climate Club to tackle global warming, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced on Monday.

“The Climate Club is not intended to be a G-7 initiative; rather, it is to be a global undertaking,” Scholz told a news conference in Berlin, following a virtual meeting of G-7 leaders.

He invited interested states that pursue an ambitious climate policy to join the Climate Club, adding that they can shape its concept and structure together in the coming months.

“This is not an exclusive club, it’s intended to be as open as possible to many countries, so that we can also together master this great task, we have to protect our planet and the environment for future generations,” he said.

Scholz also noted that the G-7 asked the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, in tandem with the International Energy Agency, to host an interim secretariat for the Climate Club.