Commitment to clean energy by 2030
UK welcomes Hungary to coal power phase-out alliance
The Alliance welcomed ten new members at the summit, including Hungary, Uruguay, the City of Kyoto in Japan, utilities Ontario Power Generation of Canada and National Grid of the UK, as well as investment managers and pension funds from Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands, the UK and the US.
Hungary has announced its commitment to phasing out coal by 2030, showcasing the growing momentum on meeting the 2030 coal phase-out date among the 27 EU Member States.
Hungary was represented at the summit by State Secretary for the Development of Circular Economy, Energy and Climate Policy at the Ministry of Innovation and Technology Attila Steiner, who said: “Hungary joined the Powering Past Coal Alliance because we understand that phasing out coal globally requires strong international cooperation.
“We are ready to share our experiences regarding the implementation of our plans to realise a full transition of our biggest coal region to an economically and environmentally sustainable region by 2030.”
British Ambassador to Hungary Paul Fox welcomed the news, saying: “The United Kingdom congratulates Hungary for its accession to the Powering Past Coal Alliance, and we look forward to working even more closely together on issues such as clean energy and coal phase-out.”
While a transition away from unabated coal power is well under way, according to the International Energy Agency, it is moving too slowly to meet the Paris Agreement goals. Accelerating the shift is crucial to keeping global temperature rise within 1.5°C. It would also help address the global economic crisis and create millions of new jobs in clean energy.
According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and in line with the Powering Past Coal Alliance declaration, by 2030 four-fifths of coal electricity generation must be replaced by clean energy globally, and entirely in developed countries. Setting an early date for a just and complete transition from coal to clean energy is the critical first step to reaching the long-term net zero commitments recently adopted by most countries, including top emitters.
The Powering Past Coal Alliance Global Summit is the year’s largest global gathering on coal power phase-out. In addition to the high-level plenary, it consists of a series of thematic sessions on grid transformation, shifting private finance, ensuring just transition, financing early retirement of coal plants, meeting net-zero targets and planning for future power demand. The summit has brought together more than 500 participants representing national and subnational governments, finance and energy sectors, trade unions and civil society.
The alliance was formed by Canada and the UK in 2017 to bring together national and subnational governments and the private sector to accelerate the phase-out of unabated coal power. Since then, the alliance has grown to more than 120 members who are at the forefront of accelerating real-world action on coal power phase-out.
How can a Hungarian exit from Coal based IPPs, reduce global warming and emissions ? UK and Canada,want to sell their renewable technology and grid upgradation technology and so …….
The Pension funds are also invested,in Renewables,Nuclear and Smart Grid entities as investors. SO,they have a vested stake
Countries like PRC and India cannot operate base load power, w/o Coal. PRC cares not for global emission treaties,and the Indians are primitive in the energy evolution curve.The Indian Grid is also obsolete.Just a few months ago.,the entire Indian Grid tripped.It cannot handle renewables and the GOI is busted – with no money for the massive grid upgradation required.
Indians are also into N-power,but the Indian people are opposed to it – and 1 N-Disaster,will bury the Indian Nuke sector,forever.Of Course,the Thorium option is a safe bet – but it is an Indian Pipe dream.Indians do not have enough Uranium – and so,there is an energy security issue.There is a surfeit of coal in the global markets.
Indian Manufacturing CANNOT operate on CSP and other innovations.The loaded and opportunity cost of Renewables in India – makes Indian Industry unviable.A nation with a 10-50 million population in the EU,can operate 90% of its electricity,on Non-Coal sources – Not nations like India and PRC.
China is exiting coal (in part) due to the security threat,from Australia – and not due to the global emission commitments.
And then,there is Africa ! In theory,if a few nations go straight up on Geo-Thermal and Solar, then the entire African region,can be fed on Renewable power – as the power load and quality required,for the manufacturing sector is low/limited.
But then, in theory,the same could apply to GeoThermal power in Iceland – which,if scaled up,could feed many nations in the EU
The future for global warming is BLEAK – and the prognosis for South Asia and South East Asia is DIRE,with health issues and the rising sea (as in Vietnam and Bangladesh).dindooohindoo