Comment on Early Day Motion backing coal use

Commenting on an Early Day Motion that argues that coal 'is a crucial bridge to that low carbon economy', Richard Black, Director of the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit, said:

“Climate science is absolutely clear: ending coal use quickly is an essential first step for all nations in order to fulfil the Paris Agreement.

“It’s far from being the only step – and in the UK, as ministers acknowledged in the Clean Growth Strategy, there’s an urgent need for new policies in energy efficiency, transport and heating in order to remain on track to our own carbon targets.

“In the meantime, the UK coal phase-out and the establishment of the Powering Past Coal Alliance are earning a lot of plaudits internationally – and turning back the clock on coal would be a strangely undiplomatic move in a world where impacts of climate change, especially on the poor, are becoming more and more visible.”