UK and Canada Announce Global Alliance to End Coal Power

UK and Canada challenge other nations to join them in committing to end coal power generation, saying “we are doing our part.”

The UK and Canada on Wednesday called on other nations to join them in ridding their energy sectors of coal power.

The two nations have committed to phase coal out of their electricity generation – by 2025 in the UK and 2030 in Canada.

Canada’s minister for the environment Catherine McKenna and UK climate minister Claire Perry met at the Houses of Parliament in London.  Afterwards, they released a joint statement calling for an end to the use of the fuel that creates more carbon emissions than any other.

“Phasing unabated coal power out of the energy mix and replacing it with cleaner technologies will significantly reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, improve the health of our communities, and benefit generations to come,” the ministers said.

The announcement of the alliance followed a September meeting between leaders Justin Trudeau and Theresa May, during which they agreed to team up on driving the global transition away from coal.

Coal plays a small role in the nations’ electricity mix – producing roughly 9% of electricity in both.  Canada already gets 59% percent of its power from hydroelectricity.

In the UK, where coal first ignited the industrial revolution, natural gas has replaced much of the coal generation.  This year, with the growing influence of renewable energy, the UK began experiencing summer days during which not a single coal station needed to be turned on.

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