Seven countries on Friday pledged they would cease building new coal power plants. (Photo: Shutterstock)
'Coal Is Dead': New Global Pact Announced After China's Bold Step
"Consigning coal to history is crucial to avoiding catastrophic climate change."
Sep 24, 2021
Just two days after Chinese President Xi Jinping announced the world's largest coal producer would stop funding overseas coal projects, seven countries on Friday pledged they would also cease building new coal power plants--the latest sign one of the world's dirtiest energy sources is on its way out.
"I call on more countries to come forward and sign up to this compact ahead of COP26, and play their part to limit global warming and keep 1.5 degrees alive."
--Alok Sharma, COP26
Chile, Denmark, France, Germany, Montenegro, Sri Lanka, and the U.K. signed the No New Coal agreement at the U.N. High-level Dialogue on Energy in New York, where officials this week aimed to gather more support for the pact at the U.N. Climate Change Conference (COP26) in November.
"Development of new coal-fired power plants must stop this year to achieve net zero emissions by 2050," said Dan Jorgensen, the Danish Minister of Climate, Energy and Utilities, in a statement. "That is why I am thrilled that we stand together with fellow ambitious countries with the aim to end construction of new coal-fired power plants. This energy compact is an important step on the way for a complete phase-out of coal power and consigning coal power to history at COP26. I encourage all governments to join this very important initiative."
According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), all emissions from coal power plants--the world's largest source of carbon emissions--must be eliminated by 2040 in order to keep the heating of the planet below 1.5C.
The No New Coal agreement requires countries to immediately stop approving permits and end new construction of "unabated coal-fired power generation projects by the end of the year," according to Bloomberg.
Noting that the seven countries signed on to the pact following Xi's announcement--which is expected to eliminate 40 gigawatts of new coal power and avoid as much as 235 million tons of carbon emissions--the climate action group 350.org said the agreement is a clear sign that "coal is dead."
"China's decision is pretty much the end of public financing for coal," Chris Littlecott, associate director of fossil-fuel transition at climate think tank E3G, told Bloomberg.
The No New Coal agreement comes four years after more than 40 countries signed onto the Powering Past Coal Alliance, which requires a commitment to phase out existing coal operations as soon as 2030 as well as a pledge to halt construction of new plants.
Alok Sharma, a U.K. lawmakers and president of COP26, applauded the countries' "bold leadership to cancel coal through the No New Coal Power Compact, demonstrating the positive impact that countries working closely together can have in generating climate action," noting that transitioning away from coal and towards renewable energy technology has increasingly been shown to be cost-effective as well as vital for the survival of the planet.
"Consigning coal to history is crucial to avoiding catastrophic climate change," said Sharma. "The cost of clean renewable technologies continues to fall, making coal expensive and uncompetitive. I call on more countries to come forward and sign up to this compact ahead of COP26, and play their part to limit global warming and keep 1.5 degrees alive."
The No New Coal initiative, along with China's announcement, has put countries around the world "on notice," Littlecott said.
\u201cWhen you are stuck in a hole, first you need to stop digging. But you also need to get out!\n\nThe No New Coal Power Compact provides governments with the missing step in the ladder to help them escape the coal hole. \ud83d\udc4f\ud83c\udffc @AkshatRathi \n\n5/\nhttps://t.co/wE6tynVJ9i\u201d— Chris Littlecott (@Chris Littlecott) 1632471738
"Governments can have confidence in committing to no new coal," Littlecott said. "The No New Coal Power Compact provides a space for them to step forward together."
An Urgent Message From Our Co-Founder
Dear Common Dreams reader, The U.S. is on a fast track to authoritarianism like nothing I've ever seen. Meanwhile, corporate news outlets are utterly capitulating to Trump, twisting their coverage to avoid drawing his ire while lining up to stuff cash in his pockets. That's why I believe that Common Dreams is doing the best and most consequential reporting that we've ever done. Our small but mighty team is a progressive reporting powerhouse, covering the news every day that the corporate media never will. Our mission has always been simple: To inform. To inspire. And to ignite change for the common good. Now here's the key piece that I want all our readers to understand: None of this would be possible without your financial support. That's not just some fundraising cliche. It's the absolute and literal truth. We don't accept corporate advertising and never will. We don't have a paywall because we don't think people should be blocked from critical news based on their ability to pay. Everything we do is funded by the donations of readers like you. Will you donate now to help power the nonprofit, independent reporting of Common Dreams? Thank you for being a vital member of our community. Together, we can keep independent journalism alive when it’s needed most. - Craig Brown, Co-founder |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
Just two days after Chinese President Xi Jinping announced the world's largest coal producer would stop funding overseas coal projects, seven countries on Friday pledged they would also cease building new coal power plants--the latest sign one of the world's dirtiest energy sources is on its way out.
"I call on more countries to come forward and sign up to this compact ahead of COP26, and play their part to limit global warming and keep 1.5 degrees alive."
--Alok Sharma, COP26
Chile, Denmark, France, Germany, Montenegro, Sri Lanka, and the U.K. signed the No New Coal agreement at the U.N. High-level Dialogue on Energy in New York, where officials this week aimed to gather more support for the pact at the U.N. Climate Change Conference (COP26) in November.
"Development of new coal-fired power plants must stop this year to achieve net zero emissions by 2050," said Dan Jorgensen, the Danish Minister of Climate, Energy and Utilities, in a statement. "That is why I am thrilled that we stand together with fellow ambitious countries with the aim to end construction of new coal-fired power plants. This energy compact is an important step on the way for a complete phase-out of coal power and consigning coal power to history at COP26. I encourage all governments to join this very important initiative."
According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), all emissions from coal power plants--the world's largest source of carbon emissions--must be eliminated by 2040 in order to keep the heating of the planet below 1.5C.
The No New Coal agreement requires countries to immediately stop approving permits and end new construction of "unabated coal-fired power generation projects by the end of the year," according to Bloomberg.
Noting that the seven countries signed on to the pact following Xi's announcement--which is expected to eliminate 40 gigawatts of new coal power and avoid as much as 235 million tons of carbon emissions--the climate action group 350.org said the agreement is a clear sign that "coal is dead."
"China's decision is pretty much the end of public financing for coal," Chris Littlecott, associate director of fossil-fuel transition at climate think tank E3G, told Bloomberg.
The No New Coal agreement comes four years after more than 40 countries signed onto the Powering Past Coal Alliance, which requires a commitment to phase out existing coal operations as soon as 2030 as well as a pledge to halt construction of new plants.
Alok Sharma, a U.K. lawmakers and president of COP26, applauded the countries' "bold leadership to cancel coal through the No New Coal Power Compact, demonstrating the positive impact that countries working closely together can have in generating climate action," noting that transitioning away from coal and towards renewable energy technology has increasingly been shown to be cost-effective as well as vital for the survival of the planet.
"Consigning coal to history is crucial to avoiding catastrophic climate change," said Sharma. "The cost of clean renewable technologies continues to fall, making coal expensive and uncompetitive. I call on more countries to come forward and sign up to this compact ahead of COP26, and play their part to limit global warming and keep 1.5 degrees alive."
The No New Coal initiative, along with China's announcement, has put countries around the world "on notice," Littlecott said.
\u201cWhen you are stuck in a hole, first you need to stop digging. But you also need to get out!\n\nThe No New Coal Power Compact provides governments with the missing step in the ladder to help them escape the coal hole. \ud83d\udc4f\ud83c\udffc @AkshatRathi \n\n5/\nhttps://t.co/wE6tynVJ9i\u201d— Chris Littlecott (@Chris Littlecott) 1632471738
"Governments can have confidence in committing to no new coal," Littlecott said. "The No New Coal Power Compact provides a space for them to step forward together."
Just two days after Chinese President Xi Jinping announced the world's largest coal producer would stop funding overseas coal projects, seven countries on Friday pledged they would also cease building new coal power plants--the latest sign one of the world's dirtiest energy sources is on its way out.
"I call on more countries to come forward and sign up to this compact ahead of COP26, and play their part to limit global warming and keep 1.5 degrees alive."
--Alok Sharma, COP26
Chile, Denmark, France, Germany, Montenegro, Sri Lanka, and the U.K. signed the No New Coal agreement at the U.N. High-level Dialogue on Energy in New York, where officials this week aimed to gather more support for the pact at the U.N. Climate Change Conference (COP26) in November.
"Development of new coal-fired power plants must stop this year to achieve net zero emissions by 2050," said Dan Jorgensen, the Danish Minister of Climate, Energy and Utilities, in a statement. "That is why I am thrilled that we stand together with fellow ambitious countries with the aim to end construction of new coal-fired power plants. This energy compact is an important step on the way for a complete phase-out of coal power and consigning coal power to history at COP26. I encourage all governments to join this very important initiative."
According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), all emissions from coal power plants--the world's largest source of carbon emissions--must be eliminated by 2040 in order to keep the heating of the planet below 1.5C.
The No New Coal agreement requires countries to immediately stop approving permits and end new construction of "unabated coal-fired power generation projects by the end of the year," according to Bloomberg.
Noting that the seven countries signed on to the pact following Xi's announcement--which is expected to eliminate 40 gigawatts of new coal power and avoid as much as 235 million tons of carbon emissions--the climate action group 350.org said the agreement is a clear sign that "coal is dead."
"China's decision is pretty much the end of public financing for coal," Chris Littlecott, associate director of fossil-fuel transition at climate think tank E3G, told Bloomberg.
The No New Coal agreement comes four years after more than 40 countries signed onto the Powering Past Coal Alliance, which requires a commitment to phase out existing coal operations as soon as 2030 as well as a pledge to halt construction of new plants.
Alok Sharma, a U.K. lawmakers and president of COP26, applauded the countries' "bold leadership to cancel coal through the No New Coal Power Compact, demonstrating the positive impact that countries working closely together can have in generating climate action," noting that transitioning away from coal and towards renewable energy technology has increasingly been shown to be cost-effective as well as vital for the survival of the planet.
"Consigning coal to history is crucial to avoiding catastrophic climate change," said Sharma. "The cost of clean renewable technologies continues to fall, making coal expensive and uncompetitive. I call on more countries to come forward and sign up to this compact ahead of COP26, and play their part to limit global warming and keep 1.5 degrees alive."
The No New Coal initiative, along with China's announcement, has put countries around the world "on notice," Littlecott said.
\u201cWhen you are stuck in a hole, first you need to stop digging. But you also need to get out!\n\nThe No New Coal Power Compact provides governments with the missing step in the ladder to help them escape the coal hole. \ud83d\udc4f\ud83c\udffc @AkshatRathi \n\n5/\nhttps://t.co/wE6tynVJ9i\u201d— Chris Littlecott (@Chris Littlecott) 1632471738
"Governments can have confidence in committing to no new coal," Littlecott said. "The No New Coal Power Compact provides a space for them to step forward together."
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.