Skip to content

Subscriber Only

David Fickling

The End of Coal Could Be Closer Than It Looks

Despite a pessimistic forecast, it’s possible to meet consumption-cut targets on the current path.

Dramatically cutting coal consumption isn’t as far-fetched as it seems. — Dramatically cutting coal consumption isn’t as far-fetched as it seems.
Photographer: Kevin Frayer/Getty Images AsiaPac

By

October 9, 2018, 5:04 AM UTC

Should we just give up now?

The world’s electrical utilities need to reduce coal consumption by at least 60 percent over the two decades through 2030 to avoid the worst effects of climate change that could occur with more than 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) of warming, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change announced Monday.