Too many new coal-fired plants planned for 1.5C climate goal, report concludes

‘There is simply no carbon budget left to be building new coal plants. We need to stop now,’ said Flora Champenois of Global Energy Monitor. Photograph: Sean Gallup/Getty Images

The number of coal-fired power plants under development around the world fell last year, but far too much coal is still being burned and too many new coal-fired power plants are planned for the world to stay within safe temperature limits.

Coal use appeared to be in long-term decline before the Covid-19 pandemic, but lockdowns around the world and economic upheaval drove an increase in new coal projects in 2020, particularly in China.