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Coals Up!
After the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement, after the latest COP 28 in December 2023, after the agreements to reduce fossil fuel emissions, we are in fact increasing fossil fuel emissions, around the world, including emissions from the filthiest of fossil fuels, coal.
Axios informs us that global coal-fired power capacity grew by another 2% last year, driven by Chinese additions and slowing shutdowns in the U.S. and other regions, per new analyses led by Global Energy Monitor. In 2023, 69.5 GW of global coal power capacity was commissioned while 21.1 GW was retired, resulting in a net annual increase in the global coal fleet of 48.4 GW. This is the highest net increase since 2016 and represents a 2% annual increase in the global operating coal fleet, which currently stands at 2,130 GW
Since the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement, almost all countries have reduced their coal-fired power plant capacity under development, and more than half the countries with coal-fired power plants have reduced or kept operating coal capacity flat. Climate concerns, unfavorable economics, and public opposition continue to close the door on many coal plant proposals — and close actual doors at some coal plants.
However, despite promising momentum, the world’s operating coal power capacity has grown 11% since 2015, and global coal use and coal capacity reached an all time high in 2023. The global coal…
