Coal is set to roar back, and so are its climate risks
The pandemic abruptly slowed the global march of coal. But demand for the world’s dirtiest fuel is forecast to soar this year, gravely undermining the chances of staving off the worst effects of global warming.
Burning coal is the largest source of carbon dioxide emissions, and, after a pandemic-year retreat, demand for coal is set to rise by 4.5% this year, mainly to meet soaring electricity demand, according to data published Tuesday by the International Energy Agency, or IEA, just two days before a White House-hosted virtual summit aimed at rallying global climate action.
“This is a dire warning that the economic recovery from the Covid-19 crisis is currently anything but sustainable for our climate,” agency head Fatih Birol said in a statement.
