Global coal use reached record high in 2024: Report

Key Concepts

• Paris Agreement: International treaty aiming to limit global warming to well below 2, preferably to 1.5 degrees Celsius, compared to pre-industrial levels.
• 1.5° C Goal: The target to limit global average temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.
• Straight of Climate Action Report: An annual report by the Systems Change Lab assessing global progress on climate action.
• Coal Phase-Out: The process of gradually reducing and eventually eliminating the use of coal for energy generation.
• Renewables: Renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, and hydropower.
• Deforestation: The clearing or removal of forests.
• Electric Vehicle (EV) Sales: The proportion of electric vehicles sold compared to total passenger car sales.
• Private Climate Finance: Investment in climate change mitigation and adaptation projects by private entities.
• COP 30: The 30th Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC, a major UN climate summit.

Backsliding in Global Climate Action

The annual "Straight of Climate Action" report, compiled by the Systems Change Lab, indicates a significant and troubling backsliding in global climate action. Despite the commitments made under the Paris Agreement, efforts have not materialized at the required pace and scale. A decade after the agreement, the planet remains "wildly off track" to meet the critical 1.5° C goal by 2030.

Key Areas of Concern

1. Coal Consumption:

• Failure to Phase Out: Countries have made minimal progress in phasing out coal, even with the growth of renewable energy sources.
• Record Coal Use: Global coal use reached an all-time high in 2024, increasing to nearly 8.8 billion tons.
• Shift in Electricity Generation Share: While the share of coal in electricity generation decreased from 37% in 2019 to 34% in 2024, this reduction was offset by an overall increase in power demand, leading to higher absolute coal consumption.

2. Deforestation:

• Accelerated Forest Loss: Efforts to halt deforestation are equally concerning. At least 8 million hectares of the world's forests were lost in the past year.
• Required Rate of Reduction: To keep the Paris Agreement's temperature limit within reach, the rate of permanent forest loss needs to decline nine times faster than it currently is.

Glimmers of Hope

Despite the overall negative trend, certain sectors are showing positive developments:

1. Electric Vehicle (EV) Growth:

• Record Sales: Global electric vehicle sales achieved a record high, accounting for 22% of total passenger car sales last year.
• China's Dominance: Much of this growth has been propelled by China, which is the world's leading manufacturer of EVs.

2. Private Climate Finance:

• Scaling Up Technologies: An increase in private climate finance has facilitated the scaling up of existing zero-carbon technologies.

Setbacks and Future Outlook

• US Policy Reversal: The report highlights that the Trump administration, despite the US being the world's second-largest emitter, has recently scaled back climate policies and programs. Such actions are seen as derailing climate action.
• Call to Action for Major Emitters: The report suggests that countries like China and the European Union (EU) have the potential to mitigate the impact of a warming planet. This is particularly relevant ahead of COP 30, the UN climate summit scheduled to be held in Brazil next month.

Conclusion

The "Straight of Climate Action" report paints a stark picture of global climate efforts falling short of the Paris Agreement's ambitions. While progress in areas like EV adoption and private climate finance offers some encouragement, the continued reliance on coal and rampant deforestation pose significant threats. Urgent and accelerated action from all nations, especially major emitters, is crucial to avert the worst consequences of climate change.