Coal Phase-Out

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

12 insights to move beyond coal towards net-zero

Cost tipping points: Renewables increasingly displace fossils

12 insights to move beyond coal towards net-zero

Share of renewables (incl. large hydro) in power generation in the G20 (2019)

12 insights to move beyond coal towards net-zero

G20 coal phase-out policy rating

12 insights to move beyond coal towards net-zero

Global planned and cancelled coal capacity, 2015-2020 (GW)

12 insights to move beyond coal towards net-zero

Share of coal in power generation (2019) and 5-year trend (2014-2019) for top G20 countries

12 insights to move beyond coal towards net-zero

G20 public support to coal production (domestic and overseas)

12 insights to move beyond coal towards net-zero

ECA fossil fuel finance for top G20 countries, annual average 2013-2015 and 2016-2018

12 insights to move beyond coal towards net-zero

G20 countries supporting the coal sector as part of their Covid-19 recovery packages

12 insights to move beyond coal towards net-zero

Hydrogen strategies of G20 countries

12 insights to move beyond coal towards net-zero

Opportunities for G20 countries to increase international action to move beyond coal

12 insights to move beyond coal towards net-zero

Policy Rating coal phase-out

Climate Transparency Report 2020

Discover more about our events and blog articles on coal phase-out.

COP28 and fossil fuels: Signal set, ambition and implementation loop must...

The COP28 concluded with the first ever Global Stocktake by calling on parties to contribute to “transitioning away from fossil fuels in energy systems...

EVENT: Implementing the Energy Transition: Policies in Colombia, Germany, India, Indonesia...

The Global Stocktake is clear: All countries need to raise their ambition to curb their emissions effectively, to a degree that is fair to...

The Climate Ambition Summit – The G20 transition from coal to...

The United Nations Secretary General António Guterres called to super-charge efforts to achieve the Climate Solidarity Pact through an Acceleration Agenda. The G20 as...

Event: Aligning international finance for the net-zero economy – A common...

The German Embassy in Tokyo, the Environmental Institute for Global Environmental Strategies and Climate Transparency cordially invite you to the event: “Aligning international finance for...

Event: A fair coal phase-out – a needed dialogue for Mexico,...

On 14 December 2021 the Mexican partner of Climate Transparency, Iniciativa Climática de México (ICM), organised the online event entitled “A fair coal phase-out...

Paper: Energy Transition in Mexico – A fair coal phase-out

Designing a fair coal phase-out strategy in Mexico is one of the country’s most urgent measures to address climate change and to ensure an...

Event: Change We Want – Just Transitions around the World

The consequences of the climate emergency are becoming more and more visible worldwide with floods, extreme heat waves and unusual droughts, compromising global and...

Event: A just transition towards carbon neutrality – China and Germany...

Greenovation Hub, Climate Transparency, the Institute of Finance and Sustainability, GIZ and the German Embassy in Beijing hold the online event: A just transition towards...

Event: Beyond coal – South Korea and Germany share experiences

Solutions for Our Climate, Climate Transparency and the German Embassy in Seoul hold an online event on 27 January 2021: “Beyond Coal – Towards Net-Zero...

Event: Beyond coal – Towards net-zero emissions

The German Embassy in Tokyo, the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies and Climate Transparency hold an online event on 18 December 2020: “Beyond coal –...

Coal transition in India, Indonesia and South Africa

Between June 2018 and June 2019, Climate Transparency partners from India (TERI), Indonesia (IESR) and South Africa (ERC) conducted research on the economic impacts...

New publication: comparing G20 actions in phasing out coal

According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC’s) Special Report Global Warming of 1.5°C, a near-total reduction in the use of coal and...

21 May 2019 l Event: Brown to Green Forum

The British Embassy Berlin and Climate Transparency organised the Brown to Green Forum: Managing the phase out of coal - perspectives from Germany, the...

Event: Transition in India’s coal sector

Climate Transparency's partner in India,TERI, conducted a workshop on transition in India’s coal sector on 15 May 2019. The workshop was a significant success, with...

Event: Global energy transition and future of coal in Indonesia

The Institute for Essential Services Reform, the Climate Transparency Partner in Indonesia, organised two events: on 1 April an international seminar entitled "Global Energy...

Event: A just coal transition for South Africa

The Energy Research Centre, TIPS, IDDRI and Climate Strategies organised a symposium on a just coal transition in South Africa on 27 February 2019...

How does South Africa manage its coal phase-out?

How does Indonesia manage its 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:

How are G20 countries phasing out coal?

What are international reactions to Germany’s Coal Commission?

Report: Global energy transition and future of coal in Indonesia

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