Dear Reader,

Coal grabbed the headlines at COP26, with the dramatic late agreement to ‘phase down’ coal power generation. This newsletter considers how the coal transition agenda can continue that momentum through 2022.

As COP26 Presidency, the UK continues to champion coal exit, reflecting both its own experience and the underlying structural trends away from coal in the real world. Our new animated data deep dive tracks how OECD and EU countries have shifted on coal since 2015, charting the year-on-year progress of retirements, cancellations, and political commitments.

E3G coal experts then explore these dynamics, first through a review of the EU’s lessons for a Just Transition beyond coal. We consider how domestic politics are hindering US progress and its international influence, despite positive data trends. Unfortunately, Japan is a slow mover on coal transition, with its new government at risk of being left further behind by its peers.

Looking beyond the OECD, we turn to South Africa’s Just Energy Transition Partnership. It was widely recognised as a substantial and innovative announcement at COP26: now all its partners need to step up and deliver. India’s climate and energy evolution is set to accelerate, with the prioritisation of renewables pushing coal out the picture. Lastly China is firmly in the spotlight – as home to half the world’s coal power generation it’s actions to ‘phase down’ coal need to accelerate.

We end with a closer look at how Coal Diplomacy can continue beyond COP26, identifying priorities for the continuing UK COP Presidency and its cooperation with Germany’s G7 and others. Together, their diplomatic leadership can continue the coal-to-clean momentum. 

Thank you for reading,