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.
COP28 and fossil fuels: Signal set, ambition and implementation loop must...
EVENT: Implementing the Energy Transition: Policies in Colombia, Germany, India, Indonesia...
The Climate Ambition Summit – The G20 transition from coal to...
Event: Aligning international finance for the net-zero economy – A common...
Event: A fair coal phase-out – a needed dialogue for Mexico,...
Paper: Energy Transition in Mexico – A fair coal phase-out
Event: Change We Want – Just Transitions around the World
Event: A just transition towards carbon neutrality – China and Germany...
Event: Beyond coal – South Korea and Germany share experiences
Event: Beyond coal – Towards net-zero emissions
Coal transition in India, Indonesia and South Africa
New publication: comparing G20 actions in phasing out coal
21 May 2019 l Event: Brown to Green Forum
Event: Transition in India’s coal sector
Event: Global energy transition and future of coal in Indonesia
Event: A just coal transition for South Africa
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
