Urging all countries to commit to phase out coal power ahead of COP26
COP26 President-Designate Alok Sharma at the Powering Past Coal Alliance's London Climate Action Week European roundtable
Greetings to you all.
It’s a pleasure to send you a message at the end of what I hope has been a really interesting and inspiring event.
Friends, we know that if we are to tackle the threat of climate change, and keep the goals of the Paris Agreement within reach, and keep the 1.5 degree temperature limit alive, as we are determined to do at COP26, we must consign coal power to history,
At the same time we need to supporting workers and communities, by creating good green jobs to fill the gap.
And there can be no doubt that the green energy transition is well underway.
Wind and solar are now cheaper than coal in most of the world,
Private investors are moving away from coal, and all the G7 has committed to end support for international coal power and to transition away from dirty coal domestically to overwhelmingly decarbonised power systems.
The Powering Past Coal Alliance plays a vital role in getting that transition moving faster.
So it has been absolutely fantastic to welcome new members today.
And of course to learn from countries’ experiences.
And to hear them come forward with new commitments.
Ahead of COP26 in November the UK COP26 Presidency is urging all countries to commit to phase out coal power, which, as we have heard today, is good for both people and our planet.
Setting an end date for coal supports a just transition,
Because if you know where you are going, you can plan how to get there.
So I urge all of you listening who have not already done so to set phase out dates, and join the Powering Past Coal Alliance.
Because working together we can consign coal power to history, where it belongs.
Thank you.