A new report published by Carbon Brief says this year will see the largest fall in electricity production from coal on record.
It is projected to drop by 3% – which is a fall of 300 terawatt hours and raises the prospect of a slowing of global CO2 emissions growth in 2019. However, the picture remains bleak with the authors warning that coal use and emissions remain far higher than the level required to keep the global temperature rise below 2C.
The report found record reductions in coal use in developed countries, with reductions not being matched by increases elsewhere, heralding perhaps the beginning of the end for coal.
The report suggests that the reasons for the drop in coal-fired generation vary from country to country, but include increased electricity generation from renewables, nuclear and gas, as well as slowing or negative demand for electricity.
Read the BBC report here.
