The United Kingdom and Canada are leading a new global coal
alliance aimed at accelerating clean growth and achieving the rapid
phase-out of traditional coal power.
More than 20 countries, including France, Finland, and
Mexico, are part of the “Powering Past Coal Alliance” which also brings
together a wide range of businesses and civil society organizations that
have united for climate protection.
According to the International Energy Agency, Coal-fired
power plants produce almost 40% of global electricity, making carbon
pollution from coal a leading contributor to climate change. Air
pollution from the burning of coal causes severe respiratory diseases
and has many other damaging health effects, in addition to being a key
driver of climate change.
The member countries of the alliance, launched during the UN
Climate Change Conference in Bonn, have agreed to phase out existing
traditional coal power and place a moratorium on any new traditional
coal power stations without operational carbon capture and storage.
Businesses and other non-government partners have in turn made
commitments to focus on powering their operations without coal.
The partners in the Powering Past Coal Alliance will also
work together to share real-world examples and best practices to support
the phase-out of coal, including through climate financing, and adopt
practical initiatives that support this transition toward clean energy.
Member countries aim to grow the alliance to 50 partners by the 2018 UN
Climate Change Conference (COP24) in Katowice.
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