Energy and Environment

Demise of coal in rich countries brings global carbon emissions to a stall

By Josh Siegel

Published February 11, 2020 2:51pm ET

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Demise of coal in rich countries brings global carbon emissions to a stall — The worldâs least efficient coal plants need to be phased out by 2030, and any remaining plants in use by 2040 have to be equipped with carbon capture technology, the International Energy Agency said. | (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Carbon emissions from energy flattened in 2019 after two years of increases, even as the world economy expanded by 2.9%.

The stall in emissions, as reported by the International Energy Agency on Tuesday, was mainly due to rich countries using less coal for electricity, replacing it with natural gas, wind, solar, and nuclear power. Coal generation in advanced economies fell by nearly 15%.

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Coal European Union Natural Gas Nuclear Energy Solar Energy Wind Energy