As of March 23, Europe is halfway to closing all of its coal power plants by 2030, Europe Beyond Coal said, adding that the 162 plant closure announcements required to reach this point have come in the five years since the historic UN Paris Climate Agreement.
Europe Beyond Coal’s countdown covers all 324 coal plants operational in Europe as of 1 January 2016. The all important 162nd coal plant closure announcement was delivered by EDF, which confirmed it will close its West Burton coal plant in 2022. “This is a highly significant milestone given that the latest possible date that all coal power plants in Europe must shut down to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement is 2030,” Europe Beyond Coal said in an emailed note.
On March 22, French energy giant EDF outlined its plan to close its West Burton coal plant in 2022.
“We are in the endgame for the coal industry in Europe,” said Kathrin Gutmann, Europe Beyond Coal campaign director. “After years of unrelenting decline, half of Europe’s coal fleet is history. Governments, energy companies and financial institutions must now plan for a 2030 or earlier coal exit, end all funding flows to coal and fossil gas, and instead, direct their support to sustainable renewables, and the just transition of impacted communities. The coming five years will then see off most remaining plants,” she added.
“Economic and political realities, allied with massive public demand to protect our climate, and clean up our air and water mean that coal and other fossil fuels simply have no future. Fourteen European countries understand this, and have washed their hands of coal,” Gutmann said, adding, “The few that remain have a clear choice: plan a 2030 phase out now, with all the benefits of cheap, clean renewable energy, and EU funds for the transition, or be forced to transition later anyway, but in an unplanned, chaotic way, that is more painful for citizens and workers, damages people’s health, and must be paid for out of national budgets”.
