Canada and the U.K. launched a global alliance to phase out electricity generated from coal, Canada's public body, Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) announced Thursday.
'Canada continues to take a leadership role at the United Nations Climate Change Conference by launching a global alliance to phase out coal electricity in partnership with the U.K.,' the statement said.
Phasing out coal is one of many climate actions that will transition Canada to a clean growth economy, the ECCC noted.
The Powering Past Coal Alliance includes Canada alongside more than 20 partners, as well as the provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario, and Quebec, as well as the state of Washington and the City of Vancouver.
With 40 percent of the world’s electricity still generated from coal, phasing out coal power is one of the 'most important steps' countries can take to meet their Paris Agreement commitments, the ECCC underlined.
The partners in the Powering Past Coal Alliance are working together to accelerate clean growth and climate protection through the rapid phase-out of traditional coal power.
The alliance will see a commitment from partners to support clean power through their policies and investments, and to restricting financing for traditional coal power without carbon capture and storage. The partners also agree to make this a just transition for workers and communities.
Along with other partners, Canada will work to expand the alliance to at least 50 partners by next fall’s United Nations climate change conference, the ECCC added.
- 'A million people die every year from coal pollution'
Phasing out coal power is good news for the climate, for health, and for kids, Catherine McKenna, Canada’s minister of environment and climate change was quoted as saying.
'Coal is literally choking our cities, with close to a million-people dying every year from coal pollution. I’m thrilled to see so much global momentum for the transition to clean energy – and this is only the beginning,” McKenna continued.
McKenna's U.K. counterpart, the Minister for Climate Change and Industry, Claire Perry, also said that reducing global coal consumption should be a vital and urgent priority for all countries and states.
'The Powering Past Coal Alliance will signal to the world that the time of coal has passed. The U.K. is committed to completely phasing out unabated coal-fire power generation no later than 2025 and we hope to inspire others to follow suit,” she said.
By Ebru Sengul
Anadolu Agency
energy@aa.com.tr