Coal and Sustainability: regional phase out and policy

Abstract

Mitigating global climate change and the aim to achieve the Paris Agreement target of limiting global warming to 2, although preferably to 1.5 °C, puts pressure on coal-fired power generation. Coal-fired power has (had) a large contribution to global climate change. Phasing out unabated coal-fired power is therefore an important part of global climate action. According the International Energy Agency all emissions from coal-fired power must be reduced by 2040 globally, and developed countries should reach this target before 2030. This therefore poses significant challenges, especially since coal-fired power is linked to economic development, which is essential for various countries across the globe. This chapter describes firstly the necessary targets for unabated coal-fired power, and global pledges following from alliances and international conferences. Furthermore, this chapter describes the different types of legal and policy instruments countries can employ to achieve coal-phase out strategies. Lastly, this chapter offers descriptions of regional (if applicable) and country commitments and the use of instruments to achieve a coal-phase out across Europe, the Americas, Africa, and Asia Pacific and progress thus far.