Coal Phase-Out Tracker: Who's Quitting Coal and Who's Doubling Down?

Coal at a Crossroads

Coal is the dirtiest fossil fuel and the single largest contributor to global CO2 emissions, responsible for approximately 40% of energy-related carbon dioxide output. In 2025, global coal consumption reached a record 8.8 billion tonnes, even as dozens of countries committed to phasing it out entirely. This paradox — simultaneous expansion and contraction — defines the most contentious fault line in the global energy transition.

The trajectory of coal use over the next decade will likely determine whether the world can limit warming to 1.5C or even 2C. Understanding which countries are quitting coal, which are doubling down, and why, is essential for any serious energy analysis.

The Powering Past Coal Alliance

The Powering Past Coal Alliance (PPCA), launched in 2017 by the UK and Canada, now includes over 60 national governments, plus scores of subnational governments and organizations that have pledged to phase out unabated coal power. Key commitments include:

• United Kingdom — Closed its last coal power plant in September 2024, becoming the first major economy to fully exit coal power.
• Germany — Legislated coal phase-out by 2038, with a political push to accelerate to 2030. Several lignite plants have already closed.
• Canada — Committed to phasing out coal power by 2030, with Alberta and Saskatchewan converting coal plants to natural gas or renewables.
• Chile — Targeting complete coal phase-out by 2030, with half of its coal fleet already retired or converted.
• South Korea — Pledged to phase out coal by 2036 and has cancelled 26 planned coal plants since 2017.

The PPCA now represents countries responsible for roughly 30% of current global coal power capacity — significant, but far from sufficient to bend the global curve.

Countries Expanding Coal

While the PPCA grows, several major economies are expanding coal capacity:

China remains the dominant force in global coal. Despite being the world's largest deployer of renewable energy, China approved 106 GW of new coal plant capacity in 2023 — the highest level since 2015. China's total coal fleet now exceeds 1,200 GW, roughly half the global total. Chinese officials frame coal as a "ballast" for energy security, providing firm capacity to back up variable renewables. However, utilization rates for Chinese coal plants have fallen to roughly 50%, raising questions about stranded asset risk.

India is the world's second-largest coal consumer and continues to expand capacity to meet rapidly growing electricity demand. India added approximately 15 GW of new coal capacity between 2023 and 2025, and the government's National Electricity Plan includes 80 GW of additional coal capacity through 2032. India's per-capita electricity consumption remains one-third the global average, creating immense pressure to build any available generation capacity.

Indonesia is Southeast Asia's largest coal producer and consumer. Despite pledging at COP26 to reach peak coal power by 2030, Indonesia approved several new coal plants in 2024 and remains heavily dependent on coal for both domestic power generation and export revenue.

Bangladesh, Vietnam, and Pakistan have all expanded or maintained coal programs, though Vietnam has recently shifted toward more LNG and renewables in its updated power development plan.

The Global Coal Fleet in Numbers

As of early 2026, the global coal power fleet looks like this:

| Metric | Value | |--------|-------| | Total operating capacity | ~2,130 GW | | Under construction | ~176 GW | | Pre-construction pipeline | ~280 GW | | Capacity retired since 2010 | ~370 GW | | Average fleet age | ~22 years |

The average age of the coal fleet is critical context. While US and European coal plants average 40–50 years old (nearing end of life), China's fleet averages just 14 years and India's roughly 18 years. These younger plants have decades of economic life remaining, making early retirement far more costly.

Impact on Global Emissions

Coal combustion emitted approximately 15.5 Gt of CO2 in 2025, representing the single largest source of human-caused greenhouse gas emissions. The IEA's Net Zero by 2050 scenario requires:

• Advanced economies to phase out unabated coal power by 2030
• All other countries to phase out unabated coal by 2040
• No new coal plants to be built anywhere, starting immediately

Current trajectories fall far short of these requirements. Even under announced policies, the IEA projects that coal emissions will decline only modestly through 2030, with a sharper drop thereafter as plants age and renewables become increasingly cost-competitive.

The Economics of Coal Decline

Despite continued expansion in Asia, the economic forces working against coal are powerful:

• Cost competitiveness — New solar and wind are now cheaper than new coal in virtually every market, and cheaper than existing coal in many. This means new coal plants are being built at an economic loss in many cases, sustained only by policy mandates or contracted power purchase agreements.
• Financing retreat — Over 150 global financial institutions have restricted or ended coal financing. The world's largest banks, insurers, and asset managers have adopted coal exclusion policies, raising the cost of capital for new coal projects.
• Carbon pricing — In jurisdictions with meaningful carbon prices (EU, UK, Canada), coal is the most expensive fossil fuel for power generation and is being displaced by gas and renewables.
• Air quality regulation — Stricter air pollution standards in China, India, and Southeast Asia are increasing compliance costs for coal plants, further eroding their economic position.

Just Transition Considerations

Coal phase-out has enormous social implications. The global coal industry directly employs approximately 7.5 million workers, with millions more in dependent communities. Successful transitions require:

• Retraining and reskilling programs for coal workers
• Economic diversification in coal-dependent regions
• Adequate timeline to avoid social disruption
• International financial support for developing countries — the Just Energy Transition Partnerships (JETPs) with South Africa, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Senegal represent early models, though implementation has been slower than hoped.

Germany's phase-out plan includes EUR 40 billion in structural support for coal regions, while the US IRA provides bonus tax credits for clean energy projects in former coal communities.

What the energtx Data Shows

Our CO2 emissions data and electricity generation mix indicators reveal the stark divide between countries phasing out coal and those expanding it. Track emissions trends and energy mix data across 56 countries on our datasets page to monitor coal phase-out progress in real time.

Compare coal-dependent economies like India, China, and Indonesia with transition leaders like the United Kingdom and Germany.

The future of coal is the most consequential energy question of our time. The data shows a world pulling in two directions — and the outcome will define whether global climate targets are achievable.