Coal accounted for 30% of global CO2 emissions in 2018, with coal-fired power plants the single largest contributor to the growth in emissions for the year. Accounting for approximately 30% of primary energy supply in the G20, an accelerated coal phase-out is critical to the global energy transition and climate mitigation.
In addition to climate mitigation, a coal phase-out could have considerable benefits – especially for countries that use coal to meet significant portions of their energy needs and/or are exposed to coal trade risks. In the G20, the countries where coal phase-out should be an immediate priority include: China, Australia, India, Indonesia, and South Africa. For these countries, coal phase-out could also bring about:
– increased public health dividends;
– reduced costs of electricity production through low input prices for renewable energies,
– reduced risks of stranded assets;
– improved energy independence and fiscal benefits.
To limit global warming to 1.5°, total coal (including with Carbon Capture and Storage) must be close to 0% of electricity generation by 2050.
Climate Transparency partners are working in G20 countries towards this goal by:
– Providing analysis and recommendations on coal phase-out – including a just transition that protects workers and other vulnerable groups which may be affected;
– Involving decision makers and change agents to share learnings, discuss challenges and opportunities;
– Engage in cross-country learnings to increase awareness, knowledge and also capacity.
Click on the picture or the download button to read papers on coal transition and coal phase-out:
CLIMATE POLICY IMPLEMENTATION CHECK: NATIONAL POLICIES THAT PROMOTE THE PHASE IN OF RENEWABLES AND THE PHASE OUT OF FOSSIL FUELS IN COLOMBIA IN ELECTRICITY GENERATION
November 2023
CLIMATE POLICY IMPLEMENTATION CHECK: ELECTRICITY GRID EXPANSION POLICIES IN GERMANY IMPLEMENTATION, PARTICIPATION AND ACCEPTANCE
November 2023
CLIMATE POLICY IMPLEMENTATION CHECK: ACHIEVING NON-FOSSIL TARGET OF INDIA – EVOLUTION OF THE ECOSYSTEM
November 2023
CLIMATE POLICY IMPLEMENTATION CHECK: POLICY ASSESSMENT- RENEWABLE ENERGY DEVELOPMENT IN INDONESIA’S POWER SECTOR
November 2023
CLIMATE POLICY IMPLEMENTATION CHECK: DECARBONISATION IN THE BALANCE: ASSESSING SOUTH AFRICA’S ENERGY TRANSITION AND THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE INTEGRATED RESOURCE PLAN
November 2023
G20 ACCELERATION CALL 2023 – FROM COAL TO RENEWABLES
September 2023
12 INSIGHTS TO MOVE BEYOND COAL TOWARDS NET-ZERO
12 INSIGHTS TO MOVE BEYOND COAL TOWARDS NET-ZERO
January 2021
G20: COMPARISON OF COAL PHASE-OUT ACTIONS
MANAGING THE PHASE-OUT OF COAL: A COMPARISON OF ACTION IN G20 COUNTRIES
May 2019
INDIA
COAL TRANSITION IN INDIA
November 2018
INDONESIA
INDONESIA’S COAL DYNAMICS: TOWARD A JUST TRANSITION
March 2019
INDONESIA’S COAL DYNAMICS: TOWARD A JUST TRANSITION (SUMMARY FOR POLICY MAKERS)
March 2019
Click on the picture to download graphs related the topic of coal phase-out.
Coal phase-out dates in OECD, Non-OECD Asia and Worldwide
Cost tipping points: Renewables increasingly displace fossils
Share of renewables (incl. large hydro) in power generation in the G20 (2019)
G20 coal phase-out policy rating
Global planned and cancelled coal capacity, 2015-2020 (GW)
Share of coal in power generation (2019) and 5-year trend (2014-2019) for top G20 countries
G20 public support to coal production (domestic and overseas)
ECA fossil fuel finance for top G20 countries, annual average 2013-2015 and 2016-2018
G20 countries supporting the coal sector as part of their Covid-19 recovery packages
Hydrogen strategies of G20 countries
The hydrogen economy
Opportunities for G20 countries to increase international action to move beyond coal
Policy Rating coal phase-out
G20 Rating: coal phase-out
Managing the phase-out of coal: a comparison of actions in G20 countries
G20 Rating: advancing renewable energies
Managing the phase-out of coal: a comparison of actions in G20 countries
Discover more about our events and blog articles on coal phase-out.
To learn more about how coal phase out looks like in G20 countries and what the international reactions to Germany’s Coal Commission are, watch our videos:
Report: Global energy transition and future of coal in Indonesia
MEXICO
TRANSITION IN MEXICO:
A FAIR COAL PHASE-OUT FOR A PARIS COMPATIBLE SCENARIO IN MEXICO
November 2021
SOUTH AFRICA
SOCIO-ECONOMIC CONSIDERATIONS FOR A PARIS AGREEMENT-COMPATIBLE COAL TRANSITION IN SOUTH AFRICA
July 2019