Despite curbing, transition efforts G20 coal emissions per capita are growing
ALBAWABA – G20 coal emissions per capita are growing amid pledges to facilitate the transition to clean energy in Group of Twenty nations, as Australia looks into extending the deadline on the closure of its largest coal power station, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported Tuesday.
The group, whose leaders meet in New Delhi this weekend, accounts for 80 percent of global power sector emissions, including coal-fired power. However, G20 leaders have yet to agree on capping global emissions by 2025 or on ramping up renewable energy use, according to AFP.
Between 2015 and 2022, G20 coal emissions per capita rose nine percent, according to the research published Tuesday by Ember, an energy thinktank advocating for renewable power.
A general view of illuminated 'Bharat Mandapam' The International Convention Centre, venue for the upcoming G20 Summit scheduled to be held this month, in New Delhi on September 4, 2023. (Photo by Sajjad HUSSAIN / AFP)
As reported by the French news agency, 12 G20 members, including Britain (UK), Germany and the United States (US), were able to significantly decrease per capita emissions. But other countries, including G20 host India, Indonesia and China, all saw their emissions rise,
Indonesia, which received pledges of $20 billion from rich nations last year to wean the country off coal, saw its per capita emissions from the fuel jump 56 percent from 2015.
Even some countries, despite achieving reductions in emissions per capita, still emit far above the global average on a per capita basis, the report said.
"China and India are often blamed as the world's big coal power polluters," said Dave Jones, Ember's global insights lead.
"But when you take population into account, South Korea and Australia were the worst polluters still in 2022," AFP reported him as saying.
According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, 70-90 percent of coal power plants that do not deploy carbon capture technology must shutdown or install carbon capture technology within eight years.
But many G20 members have yet to unveil comprehensive coal drawdown strategies, Ember noted.
"Growing wind and solar are helping to reduce coal power emissions per capita in many countries, but it's not enough yet to keep pace with rising electricity demand in most emerging countries," the report warned.
Australia may not close its largest coal power station amid growing G20 coal emissions per capita
G20 member state Astralia is seriously looking into extending the deadline for shutting down its largest coal-fired power station, Eraring, north of Sydney, beyond 2025.
Notably, Eraring supplies around 25 percent of the power for Australia's most populous state, New South Wales.
The facility had been earmarked for closure in August 2025 to help meet emissions targets and spur the transition to more sustainable, cleaner energy sources. But a recent policy review found parts of the state's energy transition plan faced "multiple headwinds" and "the likelihood of success is low," an official state government statement said, as reported by AFP.
Closing down the station means raising electricity costs for users, as the review found that average wholesale energy prices had increased since another coal-fired station, Liddell, closed in April.
Eraring, north of Sydney, is a coal-fired power station - Wikipedia
New South Wales energy minister Penny Sharpe said the centre-left adminstration had accepted the recommendation and would enter talks with Eraring owner Origin Energy.
"The case for Origin Energy to extend its timeframe for Eraring is there," Sharpe said, according to AFP.
Climate Council chief executive Amanda McKenzie on Monday had urged the state government to shutter Eraring in 2025 as planned in order to meet emissions reduction targets. Australia has vowed to reach net zero emissions by 2050.
Its carbon dioxide emissions per person are among the highest in the world at 15.3 tonnes, surpassing US levels, World Bank figures show, as reported by AFP.
Around 70 percent of New South Wales' delivered electricity comes from four coal-powered plants scheduled to retire in the next 10 to 15 years.
Australia is currently the world's second-largest exporter of thermal coal, after Indonesia, and the largest exporter of metallurgical coal, which is used in steel making.
