About
The Coal to Clean initiative is driving global efforts to transition from coal-fired power to cleaner energy solutions.
6525
Number of coal-fired power plant units in operation globally
36%
Share of total power generation from coal
160B
Tonnes of CO2 emissions reductions needed from coal to achieve net zero
The critical need to transition from coal power
Coal power continues to play a major role in electricity markets around the world, providing 36% of the total global power generation and pumping over 10.3 GtCO2 into the atmosphere every year. This results in profound environmental and health costs, and means countries slow to transition will forego the economic benefits of cleaner forms of energy.
If left unaddressed, operating the existing global coal power fleet to the full extent of their lifespans would emit 250Gt of CO2 emissions to 2050, accounting for about half the remaining carbon budget for a 1.5-degree future.
Our role in advancing the coal to clean transition
Replacing coal power with clean energy while maintaining power system security will require unprecedented mobilization of financial resources. Recently, there has been substantial progress on development of the business models which can make early retirement a reality, whilst supporting workers and communities through the transition.
What’s missing are solutions to crowd financing into these models at scale. That’s where the Forum, with our broad network of banks, investors, and asset managers, can prove most useful. Through knowledge sharing, research and collaboration, the initiative works to identify and co-create financing solutions to accelerate the pace of coal phase-out.
Coal to Clean
A World Economic Forum Initiative