Twenty-five countries and the European Union (EU) pledged to eliminate new unabated coal power from their energy systems as part of a global commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change. The announcement was made during the ongoing COP29 climate talks in Baku, with nations like the UK, Canada, Germany, and Australia signing the agreement. However, the world’s largest coal consumers, China, India, and the US, did not join the pledge.
A Global Effort to Curb Coal Use
The commitment excludes new unabated coal plants from climate plans and encourages nations to adopt long-term energy strategies supporting this. Despite global efforts to phase out coal, Wopke Hoekstra, European Commissioner for Climate Action, stressed that its usage is still increasing, especially in nations like China. “New coal power is one of the biggest threats to keeping 1.5C within reach,” Hoekstra stated.The agreement includes signatories from developed and developing countries, such as Canada, the UK, Germany, France, Australia, Angola, and Ethiopia. The pledge was developed in collaboration with the Powering Past Coal Alliance, which supports countries transitioning from coal.
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China, India, and the US Remain on the Sidelines
Some of the largest coal consumers in the world have not yet signed the pledge, despite its strong support. Major coal-consuming nations, including the US, China, and India, have not backed the push to shut down new, unabated coal power plants. While the US and EU have pushed for more substantial commitments at the COP29 summit, these nations have remained cautious.
The pledge does not require countries to halt coal mining or exports, focusing only on power generation. This distinction permits nations to continue producing coal for export without expanding their energy systems with new, unabated coal plants.
The Need for Real Action on Fossil Fuels
EU climate envoy Wopke Hoekstra emphasized that despite COP commitments to phase out fossil fuels, coal power continues to grow. “The commitment to ‘transition away from fossil fuels’ needs to turn into real steps on the ground,” he said, underscoring the urgency of reducing reliance on coal.
UK Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, who attended the summit, noted that coal remains a significant threat to limiting global warming. Coal is one of the biggest threats to limiting global warming, risking the worst consequences of climate change. Britain has already phased out all coal reliance in power generation, becoming the first G7 nation to achieve this milestone.
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Looking Ahead to COP30
In the run-up to COP30 in Brazil in 2025, the international movement will continue to stop new unabated coal power. As part of the continuous effort to reach global climate targets, the pledge’s signatories will seek to gain comparable commitments from other nations.
