Even “most efficient” coal puts global climate goals out of reach – report

WWF has published a new report that shows that even the most efficient coal plants are not compatible with the global climate change goal. The Ecofys study shows that any coal-fired power generation will take the world off course from the internationally agreed target of keeping temperature rise well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels.

“This report discredits claims from the coal industry and governments such as those of Japan, Germany, South Korea, Australia and Poland that efficient coal plants are compatible with climate action. It is clear that in a post-Paris world, there is quite simply no role for coal, however ‘efficient’,” said WWF. This conclusion was reached through an assessment of scenarios from the IPCC and IEA. Currently, 2,300 new coal power plants – 1,400 GW of capacity – are planned worldwide.

WWF concludes that governments need to end public financial support for coal immediately, and phase out all coal plants by 2035 in Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries and by 2050 globally to avoid the worst impacts of climate change. potential added up to just over US$ 5 billion.

Reference: compiled from WWF press release

Link to the report: http://bit.ly/1SeRhYG