More than 40 countries agree to phase out coal-fired power | policeman 26

[ad_1]

More than 40 countries have agreed to phase out their use of coal-fired power, the dirtiest fuel source, boosting UK hopes for a deal to “keep 1.5°C alive”, from the Cop26 climate summit.

Major countries that use coal, including Canada, Poland, Ukraine, and Vietnam, will phase out their use of coal for electricity generation, with larger economies doing so in the 1930s, and smaller economies doing so in the 1940s.

However, some of the world’s largest coal-dependent economies, including Australia, China, India and the United States, have been missing out on the deal, and experts and activists have told the Guardian that the phase-out deadlines countries have signed on are too late.

“Send coal to history” was a major focus for the UK as host of the Cop26 summit, which aims to put the world on track to limit global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.

Kwasi Quarting, UK Business Secretary, said: “Today marks a defining moment in our global efforts to tackle climate change, as nations from around the world unite in Glasgow to declare that coal has no role to play in future energy generation. It demonstrates the ambitious commitments our international partners have made. Today the end of coal is imminent.”

Coal use is one of the biggest causes of greenhouse gas emissions, according to the International Energy Agency, and the use of polluting fuels has rebounded after a temporary drop in emissions caused by shutdowns last year.

The deal brokered by the UK in Glasgow includes commitments from dozens of developing and developed countries to stop using coal, and more than 100 financial institutions and other organizations have agreed to stop financing coal development.

The deal came as part of a focus on energy for the fifth day of the Cop26 summit, and it follows a string of previous announcements earlier in the week, such as dozens of countries committing to a moratorium on deforestation. Also on Wednesday:

More than 20 governments and financial institutions, including the United Kingdom, the United States and Denmark, have agreed to phase out external funding for all fossil fuels.

Research has shown that the world could be on the right track to limit global warming to 1.9°C, if commitments by India and other countries on greenhouse gas emissions are met.

Data seen by the Guardian revealed that fossil fuel companies were using the Energy Charter Treaty to sue governments for losses they incur from national decarbonization commitments.

Ireland was told it would need to cull 1.3 million animals to meet climate targets.

Britain’s finance minister, Rishi Sunak, said at Cop26 that London would become a global center for zero net investment.

Coal advertising kit is a central pillar of the UK’s Cop26 strategy. Leading figures acknowledged to the Guardian before the start of the two-week conference that the primary goal – to get countries to come up with national plans to cut emissions that would add up to half in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, compared to 2010 levels, which scientists say Needed to stay within 1.5 ° C – it will not come true.

So in order to bridge the gap between countries’ key commitments to cut carbon emissions and cut emissions by the required 45%, part of the UK’s strategy is to focus on key areas of importance to climate – ‘cash, coal, cars and trees’ in Boris Johnson’s mantra – that will make progress key to tackling the climate crisis.

Several activists welcomed the set of announcements about coal, which also included a commitment by more than 20 countries – understood to include the US, as well as the UK and Denmark – to stop funding any fossil fuel development abroad by the end of 2022, and to transfer the estimated amount of The $8 billion (£5.85 billion) saved annually into clean energy investment instead.

“This commitment on coal is definitely a huge step forward, unimaginable a year or two ago. It’s a real sign of improvement,” said Chris Littlecott, Social Director at think tank E3G.

But others said the move was not enough. “The key point in this disappointing announcement is that coal is basically allowed to continue as usual for years now,” said Jimmy Peters, campaign manager at Friends of the Earth. “Some might hear what the Prime Minister said at the opening of the cup, compare it to this, and wonder why there is such a thing.” The difference between words and deeds.

Expert assessments have found that for the world to stay within 1.5 degrees Celsius, advanced economies must phase out coal before 2030, rather than 2030 as in the deal announced Wednesday night.

This does not change the rules of the game. The 2030 phase-out deadline should be minimal, and this agreement does not include it. Coal is already very expensive [compared with renewable energy] And nobody wants to invest money in coal anymore.”

The International Energy Agency has said that all new development of fossil fuels must stop from this year, if the world is to stay within the 1.5°C limit. The Executive Director of the International Energy Agency, Fatih Birol, also called on the world to abandon coal, which produces more carbon than other sources of electricity, if the climate crisis is to be addressed.

Although South Africa, Indonesia and the Philippines have not signed off on coal phasing out, they have agreed deals that will lead to the early retirement of many existing coal-fired power plans.

[ad_2]