Germany's Slow Coal Exit Raises Concerns Amidst Global Pressure
Germany, the world's leading miner and burner of brown coal, faces criticism for its slow pace in reducing coal use. Despite the UK's significant cuts, Germany's coal exit remains uncertain, with the Coal Commission delaying its decision.
Germany, the top lignite miner and burner, is under pressure to accelerate its coal phaseout. While the UK has reduced coal generation by 85% in five years, Germany has not matched this pace. The Coal Commission, established in 2018, was initially set to decide in 2018 but has since delayed its decision to early 2019.
The commission, led by Energy Secretary Peter Altmaier, includes representatives from politics, business, unions, environmental groups, and science. Despite the urgency, the commission has yet to announce a swift coal exit plan. Germany's last hard coal mines will close this year, and all nuclear power plants will shut down by 2022. Meanwhile, Germany has already exceeded its full-year quota of 217 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions by March.
Germany's slow coal exit, despite being the world's largest lignite user, raises concerns about its commitment to leading the Energiewende. The delayed decision of the Coal Commission and the exceeding of carbon emission quotas highlight the need for a swift and ambitious coal phaseout plan.
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