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World Coal

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA) "Coal is both the largest source of electricity generation and the largest single source of CO2 emissions, creating a unique challenge in transitioning to low-carbon energy systems."

The world needs to see significant and sustained reductions in the use of coal..

It is not enough to just increase renewable capacity and electrification and hope coal use will eventually respond in some way.

Global Consumption

As you can see from this chart global coal consumption has returned to its pre-COVID levels, and so far we have no evidence of it declining again. The IEA forecasts that it will not start to decline again within the next few years.

IEA Coal 2022

According to the IEA's Coal 2022 Report "Coal markets have been shaken severely in 2022, with traditional trade flows disrupted, prices soaring and demand set to grow by 1.2%, reaching an all-time high and surpassing 8 billion tonnes for the first time."

The report also states "In our forecast, global coal demand plateaus around the 2022 level of 8 billion tonnes through 2025. However, given the current energy crisis with all its uncertainties, a lurch into growth or contraction is possible".

Another significant factor is "India’s coal consumption has doubled since 2007 at an annual growth rate of 6% – and it is set to continue to be the growth engine of global coal demand".

Many analysts focus on China's increased renewable capacity, ignoring the continuing growth in China's coal capacity and generation.

Coal News

Mar 2023: In 2022 gas-to-coal switching increased global CO2 emaissions.

In its report CO2 Emissions in 2022 the IEA states that global growth in emissions was not as high as some had originally feared, but that "increased emissions from coal more than offset reductions from natural gas".

February 2023: China ramps up coal plant approvals despite emissions pledge

In late February 2023 it was announced that China had approved the largest expansion of coal-fired power plants since 2015.

December 2022: China's daily coal output hits record high

China's National Bureau of Statistics reported that China's daily coal output hits record high in November to meet heating demand.

November 2022: New Australia coal projects to increase methane emissions by 19%

A proposal for Australia to open 15 new coal mines was reported here. This potentially significantly increases methane emissions.