Coal peaked long ago in the west, but continued to hold out growth prospects in Asia. This week was a turning point.
With Japan and South Korea pledging to reach net zero emissions by 2050, a coal phaseout is the logical next step – along with an end to their substantial financing of coal plants abroad.
Meanwhile the Philippines declared a moratorium on new coal plants, affecting some 8GW of planned capacity.
Australia looks increasingly isolated, with prime minister Scott Morrison insisting coal exports will not be affected and refusing to join the net zero club.
While hundreds of coal plants are still in planning worldwide, with a shrinking number of financial institutions willing to back them, many are likely to be scrapped. Joe Lo asked the experts: who will build the world’s last coal plant? Place your bets.
This week’s stories
- Asian net zero wave leaves Australia’s Scott Morrison isolated
- UK negotiator: Countries must resolve carbon market dispute to step up ambition
- EU tries to stop fossil fuel companies suing states over climate action
- South Korea formally commits to cutting emissions to net zero by 2050
- Philippines declares moratorium on new coal power plants
- Who will build the world’s last coal plant?
- Vietnam braces for Typhoon Molave, in worst tropical storm season for decades
- Japan net zero emissions pledge puts coal in the spotlight
- Mayan communities are suing the Mexican government over a million solar panel megaproject
Relentless storms
For a reminder of why it matters, look to central Vietnam, where scores of people have died in flooding and landslides, amid the worst series of storms in decades.
Typhoon Molave hit the coast as a category three storm, following three others in as many weeks.
Global warming is making storms wetter and more intense, and experts say the geography of the region makes it particularly hard to adapt.
Your move, America
In case it needs saying, Climate Home backs Joe Biden for US president. You know, the candidate who accepts climate science and has a plan to address the crisis.
If, as we dare to hope based on the polls, Biden wins next week’s election, he has his work cut out to restore US credibility on the world stage.
In the event of another four years of Donald Trump, there may be a crumb of comfort in this journal article, which argues free-riding is not as big a drag on climate action as commonly assumed. Discuss.