Countries must stop using coal more quickly, otherwise climate goals will not be achieved. That is the conclusion of the international energy agency IEA on Tuesday.
Reducing global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions to net zero by 2050 is necessary to limit the long-term increase in global average temperatures to 1,5°C. Today, coal-fired electricity generation is the largest source of CO2 emissions. That's why tackling emissions from this sector is crucial to achieving our goal. National governments, subnational jurisdictions, coalitions and many major companies have announced coal phase-out commitments and net zero targets.
In anticipation COP 26 collected in November 2021 Phasing Out Unabated Coal: Current Status and Three Case Studies all known national commitments to ultimately phase out unabated coal-fired electricity generation announced to date and assess their impact in terms of reducing emissions. In addition, the report analyzes three jurisdictions in detail to extract recommendations. First, an early example of coal phase-out and implementation from the Canadian province of Ontario.
Secondly, the case of the United Kingdom, where the industrial revolution began, but which was one of the first countries to decide to phase out coal. Finally, Germany, where the phase-out is particularly complex because it is the largest coal-fired electricity producer among those committed to a phase-out and has thousands of jobs dependent on lignite mining.
This document recognizes that each country must adapt its approach based on its own specific circumstances, but nevertheless there are lessons learned from other jurisdictions taking similar measures.
