A study by climate think-tank TransitionZero calls on the world to phase out nearly 3,000 coal-fired power plants before 2030 to limit global temperature rises within 1.5 degrees Celsius. The report published ahead of the UN COP26 climate summit, shows that more than 2,000 GW of coal-fired power is in operation worldwide. It said that nearly 1,000 GW of it would need to be shut, requiring the closure of roughly one unit every day from now until the end of 2030.
Matt Gray, one of the report authors, said China would have to be responsible for half of the closure. China lowered the share of coal in its overall energy mix to 56.8% in 2020 from 72.4% in 2005. However, its absolute consumption volume has continued to increase. President Xi Jinping pledged earlier this year that his country would begin cutting coal use, but only after 2025.
