How world’s coal-power pipeline has shrunk by three-quarters

Sep 20, 2021

A man walks past a coal-fired power plant in Shanghai, China, May 28, 2021.

Reducing coal plant projects will bring the world closer to meeting its critical climate goals. Image: REUTERS/Aly Song

Leo Roberts

Research manager, fossil fuel transitions, E3G

Christine Shearer

Programme director, Global Energy Monitor

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a chart showing the changes in the status of coal projects under development around the world 2015-2021, gigawatts.

Changes in the status of coal projects under development around the world 2015-2021, gigawatts. Reading from top to bottom, the diagram shows projects that have been cancelled (dark grey), announced (light blue), shelved (light grey), pre-permit (yellow), with government permits (orange), entering construction (red), starting to operate (dark blue) or retiring (green). Note that the graphic does not include projects whose status was unchanged during the period. Image: E3G, Global Energy Monitor and Ember (2021).

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a chart showing the number of countries with coal plants at each stage of development

Number of countries with coal plants at each stage of development, including those announced (blue line), at the pre-permit stage (yellow), permitted (orange) or under construction (red) Image: E3G, Global Energy Monitor and Ember (2021).

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