Powering Past Coal Alliance

Last updated
Powering Past Coal Alliance
Formation16 November 2017;7 years ago (2017-11-16) [1]
TypeInternational environmental organization
Region served
Worldwide
Website poweringpastcoal.org
Belchatow Power Station in Poland, Europe's most polluting power plant, which is scheduled to close in 2036 20051029 Belchatow power station.jpg
Belchatow Power Station in Poland, Europe's most polluting power plant, which is scheduled to close in 2036

The Powering Past Coal Alliance (PPCA) is a group of 186 countries, cities, regions and organisations aiming to accelerate the coal phase-out of coal-fired power stations, except the very few which have carbon capture and storage. [2] [3] [4] It has been described as a "non-proliferation treaty" for fossil fuels. [5] The project was undertaken with financial support from the Government of Canada, through their environmental department known as Environment and Climate Change Canada. [6]

Contents

History

The Nanticoke Generating Station in Ontario, one of the largest power plants to be shut as part of Ontario's coal phaseout Nanticoke Generating Station 2.jpg
The Nanticoke Generating Station in Ontario, one of the largest power plants to be shut as part of Ontario's coal phaseout

The Alliance was launched by Canada and the UK at the COP23 climate summit in November 2017. Announcing the launch, Climate Action Network-Canada Executive Director Catherine Abreu said: "Canada and the UK are right to kick-start the Alliance, as science tells us that OECD countries need to phase out coal by 2030 at the latest”. [1] [7]

By the end of the summit, membership had grown to include over 20 countries, regions and organizations. [8] Within a month membership had grown to over 50. [9] Its purpose is to establish a new international norm, or “standard of appropriate behaviour”, that coal should not be burned for power. [2]

In April 2018 a research partnership was announced with Bloomberg Philanthropies. [10]

In October 2018 the South Korean province of South Chungcheong became the first jurisdiction in Asia and the largest user of coal power to join the Alliance. [11] [12] In December 2018 Sydney, Melbourne, Scotland, Scottish Power, Senegal and Israel also joined [13] and in September 2019 seven new members joined including Germany and Slovakia. [5] [14]

In June 2020 6 global finance organisations joined including Desjardins Group, the first major North American financial institution to join. [15]

During 2021 at least 38 new members joined including Hungary, Uruguay, [16] Chile, Estonia, Singapore, Slovenia and Ukraine. [17]

During 2023 at least 15 new members joined including The Czech Republic, Morocco, Colombia and the United States. [18]

Aims

Coal use for power by country and territory in 2022-23. Powering Past Coal Alliance (PPCA) membership also indicated. _ Coal >50% of grid electricity _ Coal 10-50% of grid electricity _ Coal 10-50% of grid electricity (PPCA member) _ Coal <10% of grid electricity _ Coal <10% of grid electricity (PPCA member) _ Coal <0.1% of grid electricity _ No data Global coal use in power generation map.png
Coal use for power by country and territory in 2022–23. Powering Past Coal Alliance (PPCA) membership also indicated.
_ Coal >50% of grid electricity
_ Coal 10–50% of grid electricity
_ Coal 10–50% of grid electricity (PPCA member)
_ Coal <10% of grid electricity
_ Coal <10% of grid electricity (PPCA member)
_ Coal <0.1% of grid electricity
_ No data

Alliance members agree that: [9]

Reaction

Reacting to the launch, Tracy Carty of Oxfam said the Alliance "represents real and tangible progress in the fight against climate change." [20]

Business change organisation The B Team welcomed the Alliance, and argued that exiting coal must happen as a just transition that protects vulnerable workers and communities such as coal mining communities. [21]

Progress

As of 2025, the US has closed, or planned closure of, 65% of coal plants, while in Europe 50% of the coal fleet is planned for retirement. [22]

Several countries have closed all of their coal plants including:

Ethiopia had planned what would have been its only coal plant in 2011, but it is not being built. [29]

Members

Members of the Powering Past Coal Alliance as of May 2025 were: [30]

Nations

  1. Albania
  2. Angola
  3. Austria
  4. Azerbaijan
  5. Belgium
  6. Canada
  7. Chile
  8. Colombia
  9. Costa Rica
  10. Croatia
  11. Cyprus
  12. Czech Republic
  13. Denmark
  14. Dominican Republic
  15. El Salvador
  16. Estonia
  17. Ethiopia
  18. Fiji [31]
  19. Finland
  20. France
  21. Germany [32]
  22. Greece
  23. Honduras
  24. Hungary
  25. Iceland
  26. Ireland
  27. Israel
  28. Italy
  29. Latvia
  30. Liechtenstein
  31. Lithuania
  32. Luxembourg
  33. Kosovo
  34. Malta
  35. Marshall Islands
  36. Mauritius
  37. Mexico
  38. Montenegro
  39. Morocco
  40. Netherlands
  41. New Zealand
  42. Niue
  43. North Macedonia
  44. Norway
  45. Panama
  46. Peru
  47. Portugal
  48. Senegal
  49. Singapore [33]
  50. Slovakia
  51. Slovenia
  52. Spain
  53. Sweden
  54. Switzerland
  55. Tuvalu
  56. Uganda
  57. Ukraine
  58. United Arab Emirates
  59. United Kingdom
  60. United States
  61. Uruguay
  62. Vanuatu

Sub-national entities

  1. Alberta, Canada
  2. Australian Capital Territory, Australia
  3. Baden-Württemberg, Germany
  4. Balearic Islands, Spain
  5. British Columbia, Canada
  6. California, US
  7. Colorado, US
  8. Connecticut, US
  9. Daegu, South Korea
  10. Durban, South Africa
  11. Eastern Wielkopolska, Poland
  12. Gangwon, South Korea
  13. Guimaras, Philippines
  14. Gyeonggi, South Korea
  15. Hawaii, US
  16. Honolulu, US
  17. Ilocos Norte, Philippines
  18. Incheon, South Korea
  19. Jeju, South Korea
  20. Jeollanam, South Korea
  21. Kaohsiung City
  22. Koszalin, Poland
  23. Kyoto City
  24. Los Angeles, US
  25. Masbate, Philippines
  26. Melbourne, Australia
  27. Minnesota, US
  28. Negros Occidental, Philippines
  29. Negros Oriental, Philippines
  30. New Jersey, US
  31. New Mexico, US
  32. New Taipei City
  33. New York, US
  34. Ontario, Canada
  35. Oregon, US
  36. Ormoc, Philippines
  37. Philadelphia, US
  38. Puerto Rico
  39. Quebec, Canada
  40. Rotterdam, Netherlands
  41. Scotland, UK
  42. Seoul, South Korea
  43. South Chungcheong, South Korea
  44. Sydney, Australia
  45. Taichung City, Taiwan
  46. Taoyuan City, Taiwan
  47. Vancouver, Canada
  48. Wales, UK
  49. Wałbrzych, Poland
  50. Washington, US
  51. Wielkopolska, Poland

Businesses and other organisations

  1. ACEN
  2. Aberdeen Standard Investments
  3. Alterra Power
  4. Amundi
  5. ArcTern Ventures
  6. Autodesk
  7. Avant Garde Innovations
  8. Aviva [34]
  9. Axa Investment Managers
  10. BT
  11. Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec
  12. Caisse des dépôts et consignations
  13. CalPERS
  14. Capital Power
  15. CCLA Investment Management Limited
  16. Central Finance Board of the Methodist Church and Epworth IM
  17. Church Commissioners for England
  18. Church of England Pensions Board
  19. Desjardins Group
  20. Diageo
  21. Drax
  22. DSM
  23. DTEK
  24. Econet Group
  25. EcoSmart
  26. EDP [35]
  27. Electricité de France (EDF)
  28. Eneva
  29. Engie
  30. Ethos Foundation
  31. Export Development Canada
  32. Fidelity International
  33. GAM
  34. Generation Investment Management
  35. GeoExchange Coalition
  36. GreenScience
  37. Hermes Investment Management [34]
  38. HSBC
  39. Iberdrola
  40. Impax Asset Management
  41. Indika Energy
  42. Kering
  43. Legal & General
  44. Lloyds Bank
  45. M&G Plc
  46. Marks and Spencer
  47. Mott MacDonald
  48. National Grid
  49. National Grid (ESO) [36] [37]
  50. Natura Cosmetics
  51. NatWest
  52. Ontario Power Generation
  53. Ørsted
  54. Pacific Islands Development Forum
  55. PensionDanmark
  56. Robeco
  57. Salesforce
  58. Schroders
  59. SCOR Global Investments
  60. Scottish Power
  61. SSE
  62. Standard Chartered
  63. Stichting Pensioenfonds ABP
  64. Storebrand
  65. Swiss Re
  66. TransAlta
  67. Unilever
  68. United Church of Canada
  69. Vancity
  70. Varma Mutual Pension Insurance Company
  71. Virgin Group
  72. XPND Capital
  73. ZE PAK

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Beer, Mitchell (26 November 2017). "BREAKING: 25 JURISDICTIONS JOIN CANADA, UK IN COAL PHASEOUT ALLIANCE". The Energy Mix. Retrieved 21 January 2020.
  2. 1 2 Blondeel, Mathieu; Van de Graaf, Thijs; Haesebrouck, Tim (January 2020). "Moving beyond coal: Exploring and explaining the Powering Past Coal Alliance". Energy Research & Social Science. 59: 101304. Bibcode:2020ERSS...5901304B. doi:10.1016/j.erss.2019.101304.
  3. ↑ Shrestha, Priyanka (15 July 2019). "National Grid ESO joins Powering Past Coal Alliance". Energy Live News. Retrieved 21 January 2020.
  4. ↑ Rabson, Mia (17 November 2017). "Canada and U.K. form alliance to phase out coal to combat climate change". CBC . Retrieved 20 January 2020.
  5. 1 2 Blondeel, Thijs; Van de Graaf, Mathieu (10 February 2019). "Growing anti-coal alliance could become non-proliferation treaty for fossil fuel". Climate Home News. Retrieved 21 January 2020.
  6. ↑ "Our mission | Powering Past Coal Alliance". Powering Past Coal Alliance (PPCA). Retrieved 2020-01-21.
  7. ↑ "Canada & UK launch coal phaseout plan" . Retrieved 29 September 2018.
  8. ↑ "Powering Past Coal Alliance: 20 countries sign up to phase out coal power by 2030". ABC News. 2017-11-17. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
  9. 1 2 Hill, Joshua (17 December 2017). "Powering Past Coal Alliance Membership Blows Out Past 50". CleanTechnica . Retrieved 29 September 2018.
  10. ↑ Cochran, Lee. "Bloomberg Philanthropies Announces Partnership with Powering Past Coal Alliance to Strengthen Global Efforts to Phase Out Coal". Bloomberg Philanthropies. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
  11. ↑ Sauer, Natalie (10 March 2018). "South Korean province joins international coal phase-out club". Climate Home News. Retrieved 21 January 2020.
  12. ↑ Chen, Han (2 October 2018). "Korean Province to Phase Out Coal: Implications for Asia". Natural Resources Defense Council . Retrieved 4 October 2018.
  13. ↑ Sauer, Natalie (13 December 2018). "Sydney and Melbourne vow to ditch coal power". Climate Home News. Retrieved 15 December 2018.
  14. ↑ "Germany and Slovakia head list of new Alliance members at UN Climate Action Summit". poweringpastcoal.org. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
  15. ↑ "Canada to celebrate Clean Air Day with new members of the Powering Past Coal Alliance, including Quebec-based Desjardins Group". bloomberg.com. 2 June 2020. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
  16. ↑ "Hungary becomes member of Powering Past Coal Alliance". bbj.hu. 11 March 2021. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
  17. ↑ "Powering Past Coal Alliance Expands at COP26, Adds New Mexico". newsdata.com. 19 November 2021. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
  18. ↑ "Our Members". 2 August 2022. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
  19. ↑ "Electricity Data Explorer | Open Source Global Electricity Data". Ember.
  20. ↑ Hernandez-Arthur, Simon (8 December 2017). "Reaction to launch of 'Powering Past Coal' Alliance". Oxfam International. Retrieved 15 December 2018.
  21. ↑ Burrow, Sharan; Robinson, Mary (2020). "Powering past coal is right move, but we can't do it without a just transition". The B Team. Retrieved December 15, 2019.
  22. ↑ "Bloomberg Global Coal Countdown" . Retrieved 29 April 2025.
  23. ↑ "Belgium says goodbye to coal power use…". 5 April 2016. Retrieved 30 April 2025.
  24. ↑ "Austria's last coal plant closes, increasing European coal phase-out momentum". 17 April 2020. Retrieved 30 April 2025.
  25. ↑ "The last coal power plant in Sweden has closed – two years ahead of schedule". 5 May 2020. Retrieved 30 April 2025.
  26. ↑ "United Arab Emirates" . Retrieved 30 April 2025.
  27. ↑ "Norway Closes Last Coal Plant, Paves Path Toward Renewables" . Retrieved 30 April 2025.
  28. ↑ "UK to close last coal power station after 142 years". 30 September 2024. Retrieved 30 April 2025.
  29. ↑ "Ethiopa" . Retrieved 30 April 2025.
  30. ↑ "Members". 2 August 2022. Retrieved 22 May 2025.
  31. ↑ "Fiji Joins "Powering Past Coal Alliance" to Accelerate Clean Growth". 16 November 2017. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
  32. ↑ "Deutschland tritt Allianz der Kohleausstiegsländer bei". Neue Zürcher Zeitung. 22 September 2019. Retrieved January 20, 2020.
  33. ↑ Leo, Lakeisha. "COP26: Singapore commits to phasing out unabated coal power by 2050". CNA. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
  34. 1 2 "PPCA Finance Principles launched at Green Finance Summit 2019". Powering Past Coal Alliance (PPCA). Retrieved 2019-07-27.
  35. ↑ https://steelguru.com/coal/edp-joins-powering-past-coal-alliance-to-end-coal-power-generation/563368#:~:text=Coal%20News%20%2D%20Published%20on%20Mon%2C%2021%20Sep%202020&text=EDP%20is%20one%20of%20the,from%20unabated%20coal%20power%20generation. [ dead link ]
  36. ↑ "National Grid Electricity System Operator joins Powering Past Coal Alliance | Powering Past Coal Alliance". Powering Past Coal Alliance (PPCA). Retrieved 2019-07-15.
  37. ↑ "National Grid ESO joins Powering Past Coal Alliance". BusinessGreen. 2019-07-15. Retrieved 2019-07-15.
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