Climate action to focus on clean coal technologies

Following the G7 leader’s announcement on the energy sector, the World Coal Association (WCA) has stated that additional investment in cleaner coal technologies is required in order to support developing and emerging economies access affordable, reliable electricity from coal, while reducing CO₂ emissions.

WCA CEO Benjamin Sporton said: “Leaders of the G7 need to recognise that coal is playing a critical role in bringing affordable, reliable electricity to hundreds of millions of people in developing and emerging economies, particularly across Asia.”

Rather than impeding fossil fuels, the WCA believe that world leaders should be focusing on developing coal technology, such as low emissions power generation and carbon capture. The association has therefore proposed a global Platform for Accelerating Coal Efficency (PACE) to support deployment of the most efficient coal-fired power plant technologies.

High-efficiency low-emission (HELE) coal technologies offer major immediate CO₂ reductions and are key to developing carbon capture, use and storage (CCUS).

“I urge G7 leaders to support an international climate treaty in Paris that provides policy parity for all low emission technologies. That means they should help ensure that the most advanced coal technologies are used now and provide clear support for the deployment of CCUS through climate financing mechanisms, especially the Green Climate Fund.”

Increasing the average efficiency of the global coal fleet from the present 33% to 40% would stop 2 billion t of CO₂ emissions. This is equal to India’s annual CO₂ emissions or running the Kyoto Protocol three times over.

“Only by treating development and climate objectives as integrated priorities will we achieve a successful agreement in Paris,” concluded Sporton.

Edited from Press Release by Harleigh Hobbs

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcoal.com/power/10062015/taking-action-to-support-developing-econmies-2400/