The 2015 Paris Agreement may have sounded the death knell for coal power plant construction, according to a new report.   

Participating countries agreed to limit global temperature rises to 1.5 Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) by 2050 through reaching net-zero carbon emissions.   

Research by independent European climate change think tank E3G, Global Energy Monitor, and Ember has shown a 76% reduction in proposed coal power since the signing of the Paris Agreement. 

Some 44 countries have committed to “no new coal” with another 40 ready to follow suit after canceling proposed coal power plants. 

Coal Remains a Dirty Word in Climate Change Debate  

Coal is the “dirtiest” (aka, the most carbon-intensive) fossil fuel that humans burn, and the largest culprit in global warming. Coal is responsible for almost one-third of the 1 Celsius (1.8 degrees Fahrenheit) increase in the world average temperatures already recorded.   

In fact, UN Secretary General António Guterres has stated: “There must be no new coal plants built after 2021.” 

Six Countries Could Decimate New Coal Power Plant Construction 

In 2015, there was 1,553 GW of coal capacity in the pipeline. Since then, just 297 GW of power has made it into coal’s pre-construction pipeline. Governments and firms canceled some 1,175 GW of planned projects in the same timeframe.    

China burned more than half of the world’s coal last year. The aborted projects represent adding the equivalent of a second China — 1,047 GW of coal — to global capacity.  

Just six countries now account for more than four-fifths (82%) of the remaining planned coal power plant developments.   

• China: 55%, 163 GW 
• India: 7%, 21 GW 
• Vietnam: 6.5%, 19 GW 
• Indonesia: 6%, 18 GW 
• Turkey: 4%, 12 GW 
• Bangladesh: 3%, 10 GW 
• Rest of the World: 18%, 53 GW  
  

A further 16 countries are just one scrapped project away from a coal-free energy future. 

Coal’s Embers Help World Suffer Hotter Days More Often 

BBC research shows the number of days worldwide with temperatures exceeding 50 Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit) has doubled since the 1980s.   

Scorching days occur in more areas than before, with around 26 days a year above the 50 Celsius mark now, as climate change grips the globe.   

The BBC quoted Dr. Friederike Otto, associate director of the Environmental Change Institute at the University of Oxford. He said: “The increase can be 100% attributed to the burning of fossil fuels.” 

What About Coal’s Immediate Future?  

A reduction in new coal power plant construction is welcome. Still, it doesn’t fully illustrate the world’s dependency on this fossil fuel.   

In 2019, coal was the world’s second-largest primary energy source at 27%, trailing only oil (33.1%) and more than gas (24.2%). Coal production is expected to increase between now and 2025, according to the International Energy Agency.  

China mines just under half of the world’s coal, making it the world’s biggest coal producer. It will look to phase out coal from its energy supply from 2026 onwards. Meanwhile, India anticipates a 9% growth in coal production this year.  

Report Author Urges Quicker Move Away From Coal 

The E3G report author, Leo Roberts, calls for an attitude change that could save money as much as carbon emissions.   

As he stated:  

“The structural transformation of the global electricity sector is accelerating, with countries increasingly steering away from coal power generation as they recognize that coal is a fuel of the past.   

“The 40 countries in a position to commit to ‘no new coal’ can now join those who have already done so since Paris. Those countries still considering new power plants should urgently recognize the inevitability of the global shift away from coal, and avoid the costly mistake of building new projects.”  

Coal may soon be the dirty word in the battle against climate change. However, no one can doubt its durability. Public opinion, and not global energy demands, may be its final judge and jury. 

Opinion writer: Tom Shearman

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