US powers past coal, Australia relies on 'drug dealer' defence

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/live/2023/dec/02/day-three-uae-loss-and-damage

05.07 EST
US powers past coal, Australia relies on ‘drug dealer’ defence
Damian Carrington

The US joined the Powering Past Coal Alliance today by committing to close all its coal-fired power plants, in a move hailed at Cop28 as “huge news” that puts pressure on the world’s biggest burner of coal, China.

Coal is the dirtiest fossil fuel – about 40% of fossil fuel emissions – and its phase-out is essential to fighting the climate crisis. The US has the world’s third biggest fleet of coal-burning power stations. The deadline set by the US for ending coal appears to be 2035, five years after the 2030 date seen as compatible with keeping global heating below 1.5C.
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Leo Roberts, at the E3G thinktank, said: “The US is a huge coal consumer. So this is hugely symbolic, not just in terms of emissions, but also in terms of the US stepping up on the international stage.”

“This puts a huge amount of pressure on the other OECD countries to make Paris-aligned coal exit commitments, particularly Japan, Australia and South Korea,” he said: “This is also putting direct pressure on China, which has over half of the world’s coal and nearly 75% of the world’s new coal project pipeline. I think that’s an intentional tactic by the countries who have stood up.”
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