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New Energy World
New Energy World embraces the whole energy industry as it connects and converges to address the decarbonisation challenge. It covers progress being made across the industry, from the dynamics under way to reduce emissions in oil and gas, through improvements to the efficiency of energy conversion and use, to cutting-edge initiatives in renewable and low carbon technologies.
Global coal report suggests big challenges for COP28
6/9/2023
4 min read
Hosted in the oil and gas rich United Arab Emirates (UAE) and presided over by the CEO of the country’s national oil company, COP28 already holds controversy. But with global coal consumption still rising, in Asia at least, the event in November faces considerable fossil fuel challenges, writes Nick Cottam.
In the run-up to COP28, the UN’s annual climate change conference, the issue of coal will likely present itself as a sticking point. Committing to the phase-out of coal remains a bone of contention, notably for the behemoth economies of China and India, but also elsewhere. Delegates will come to the conference knowing that demand for the black stuff is as high as ever and is set to reach record levels in 2023, according to International Energy Agency (IEA) research.
Coal won’t be the only energy conundrum at this year’s COP. The process of transitioning to a low-carbon, clean energy, global economy is undoubtedly in train – witness the dramatic growth of wind and solar – but progress in different parts of the world is at best uneven and at worst both muddled and confusing. COP28 may help to clarify targets and galvanise further action, but don’t hold your breath.
More coal, poor grid connections and inefficient, sometimes corrupt, energy systems are among the major challenges to the ideal of what has become known as a just transition.