Coal
Coal communities fear South Africa’s clean energy transition
Almost 80% of the more than 80,000 residents working in Ermelo are employed by Eskom and Transnet, the state-owned energy and transport companies
Thunberg joins protest against German coal mine expansion
The German government agreed that utility RWE could expand the Luetzerath coal mine in exchange for a faster national coal phase-out
Rich nations, banks pledge $20bn for Indonesia’s coal-to-clean switch
The US and Japan led on mobilising finance to retire Indonesian coal plants and scale up renewables, in a deal announced in Bali
As Cop27 kicks off, where are the coal to clean deals at?
Rich countries have been discussing “just energy transition partnerships” with South Africa, Indonesia, Vietnam, India and Senegal
South Africa approves $8.5bn energy transition investment plan
Insiders say less than 3% of the money rich countries promised is earmarked as grants, raising concerns about fairness and South Africa’s debt burden
Billionnaire activist forces Australia’s biggest polluter into climate-friendly U-turn
AGL had planned to split in two and keep burning coal for another two decades or more, before Mike Cannon-Brookes led a shareholder revolt
How a tech billionaire is forcing Australia’s coal die-hards to face the future
Mike Cannon-Brookes’ market raid on AGL, Australia’s biggest polluter, is putting its slow coal exit plan under scrutiny
China’s coal miners face a challenge to capture leaked methane
China has committed to cut methane emissions in a deal with the US but a lack of robust monitoring and expensive capture technologies are barriers
As Japan sanctions Russian coal, it is high time to kick the habit altogether
For too long, Japan has depended on coal power at home and promoted it abroad, despite the climate imperative to switch to clean energy
Australian government welcomes high fossil fuel prices, ships coal to Ukraine
Scott Morrison’s administration is celebrating rising coal exports and pledging to send a shipment of coal to Ukraine
2021 in coal: China’s dirty recovery mars international finance crackdown
Global coal power generation reached an all time high in 2021, just as countries reached an elusive consensus to phase down the fossil fuel
Germany to quit coal by 2030 under coalition agreement, aiming for 1.5C path
A “traffic light coalition” of centre-left, green and pro-business parties has agreed to strengthen climate policies in the next German government
India ‘cannot escape’ coal phasedown, top coal ministry official says
An estimated 13-20 million workers in India depend on coal assets for their livelihoods, raising the need for a transition plan and financial support
India’s vulnerability to coal shocks exposed amid surging energy demand and prices
The country’s looming energy crisis raises serious questions over India’s coal expansion plan as private investors move away from the sector, analysts say
China’s power crunch could fuel anti-climate backlash, analysts warn
Many media reports have linked the power cuts to environmental policies aimed at curbing energy intensity, when high coal prices are the real culprit
South Africa’s climate advisers urge faster shift away from fossil fuels
The climate commission has called on the government to step up its 2030 climate goal – which some advisers say will require ending new coal and gas projects
Climate fund considers India, South Africa to pilot $2bn coal transition scheme
Climate Investment Funds CEO Mafalda Duarte has been tasked with mobilising private capital to help wean developing countries off coal and create cleaner jobs
South Korea proposes cutting emissions 40% by 2030
The coal-reliant nation will need to pivot quickly to renewable energy under the government’s proposed new climate target
UK calls on countries to ‘consign coal to history’ at Cop26
As a global shift away from coal gathers momentum, the UK government is putting it at the heart of its the vision for this year’s UN climate talks in Glasgow
Germany raises ambition to net zero by 2045 after landmark court ruling
A surprise plan to strengthen Germany’s emission targets reignites debate on quitting coal and pricing carbon ahead of September’s election