The coal industry is finally closing more plants than it’s building

The coal industry is finally closing more plants than it’s building

To meet global demand, producers have continued to burn coal at a rate that’s incompatible with international climate goals and a stable climate. During the first half of 2020, the world’s coal-generated power capacity shrank for the first time since at least the 1950s, according to the non-profit Global Energy Monitor. New plants haven’t entirely stopped coming online: The world added 18.3 GW of new coal-fired generation.