The report was published just days ahead of world leaders gathering in Glasgow for COP26. More than other fossil fuels, coal may prove to be the most contentious issue as the most polluting of fossil fuels whilst still being a major driver of economic growth in much of the world.
There is currently more than 2,000GW of unabated coal-fired power in operation, according to Global Energy Monitor. This must be almost halved by the end of the decade, requiring the closure of almost one coal unit every day from now until 2030. Operating coal units are currently on average 314MW in size, according to Global Energy Monitor data.
There was a record number of coal station retirements in 2020. However, there must be a more than threefold increase in the amount of coal capacity closed in the past decade to meet the 1.5°C target considered critical for protecting small island nations from climate impacts such as rising sea levels.
Matt Gray, author of the report,...