In COP26 - UN Climate Change Conference, 40+ countries commit to ending coal
COP26 - UN Climate Change Conference
Coal is one of the oldest energy sources on the planet, but it's also the biggest net contributor to greenhouse gases on the planet.
In 2019, as much as 37% of the total energy produced in the world came from burning coal, but as of today a new pledge has been signed by over 40 countries at COP26 to move away from coal as an energy source - to more renewable alternatives.
Signatories for this pledge include countries like Poland, Vietnam, and South Africa - the last of which was reliant on coal for as much as 80% of its energy.
As part of the pledge, all signing nations are now committed to ending all investment in new coal power both at home and abroad, with additional promises to phase out coal in developed countries by the 2030s and developing countries by 2040.
"The world is moving in the right direction, standing ready to seal coal's fate and embrace the environmental and economic benefits of building a future that is powered by clean energy."
These were the words of business and energy secretary Kwasi Kwarteng in response to the deal, and with the significant amounts of capital that have been set aside by more developed nations, the more coal-reliant developing countries will have clear investment strategies to effectively and seamlessly make their transition to renewables.
Sadly, big players like the United States and China were not part of the collective signatories, despite being some of the biggest emitters of coal pollution - but we hope that the 40+ countries who have signed will lead by example and pave the way for all nations to make a safe, swift and strategic transition away from the toxic energy source.
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