At the COP26 climate summit in Scotland, a plan was announced to permanently end coal power generation after 250 years. However, the lack of support from some major polluters is cause for concern.
“The end of coal is in sight,” COP26 chief Alok Sharma said in Glasgow today. More than 40 countries have signed a declaration to phase out coal power generation by 2030 for major economies and by 2040 for poor countries. Poland, Vietnam and Chile are among 23 countries that have committed to this for the first time. Investment in coal-fired power plants abroad is also out of the question.
In addition, 28 new countries joined the “Coal Alliance in the Past”. This coalition – led by the UK – wants to phase out the use of coal. However, major polluters such as China, the United States, India and Australia are not on the list. This worries observers.
“Watch out for the minute details”
Greenpeace immediately criticized the agreement. The head of the delegation, Juan Pablo Osornoñón, told the BBC: “The fine lines seem to give countries plenty of room to choose when their phase-out will take place, despite the headline of the talk.”
Electricity generation from coal is the main cause of global warming. Belgium has been coal-free since the closing of the Langerloo plant in 2016.
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