Climate Changed
Coal Back as Flashpoint in Climate-Change Fight
- Germany and Poland come out in support of dirtiest fossil fuel
- Next round of talks to be held in Poland’s mining heartland
Smokestacks and cooling towers emit smoke near Bergheim, Germany.
Photographer: Wolfgang von BrauchitschThis article is for subscribers only.
Coal emerged as the surprise winner from two weeks of international climate talks in Germany, with leaders of the host country and neighboring Poland joining Donald Trump in support of the dirtiest fossil fuel.
While more than 20 nations, led by Britain and Canada, pledged to stop burning coal, German Chancellor Angela Merkel defended her country’s use of the fuel and the need to preserve jobs in the industry. Meanwhile Poland’s continued and extensive use of coal raised concerns that the next meeting, to be held in the nation’s mining heartland of Katowice, could thwart progress.