The WCA COP21 position highlights that without action to support deployment of low emission coal technology it will not be possible to achieve the 2 degree climate target and the WCA supports a transition away from the least efficient technology in favour of high efficiency low emission (HELE) coal-fuelled power generation technology.

Also, global investment is required in carbon capture and storage (CCS) and if comprehensive policy and financial support is provided for CCS over the coming decade, including policy parity, it is realistic to believe that a transition toward no new unabated fossil fuels could begin in the late 2020s.

WCA CEO Benjamin Sporton said: “Environmental imperatives, energy security, economic development and an end to poverty are issues which are inextricably linked. In order to achieve emissions reductions consistent with international climate objectives, we need to balance these issues, recognising the importance of low-cost energy and the need to widen the deployment of all low emission technologies.”

Raising the average global efficiency of coal plants from 33% to 40% with off-the-shelf HELE technology would save 2 gigatonnes of CO2 emissions. This is the equivalent of running the Kyoto Protocol three times over or India’s annual CO2 emissions.

“Many countries have included a role for HELE coal-based power generation in their Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs). We therefore call for an international mechanism to be established to provide financial and other support necessary for countries to accelerate construction of these projects,” Sporton said.

“The WCA has proposed the establishment of a Global Platform to Accelerate Coal Efficiency (PACE) to help deliver high efficiency low emission coal-fired power generation in the developing world and we stand ready to work with international partners to support its implementation.

“We need all sources of energy to meet growing energy needs and all low emission technologies to reduce emissions. It is therefore imperative to establish policy parity for all low emission technologies if we want to achieve our climate targets. Strong policy drives strong action.

“Growth in renewable energy technology has been driven by policy that provides $100 billion in subsidies every year. The cumulative value of government policy support provided to CCUS to date is approximately 1% of the cumulative value of policy support provided to renewable technologies.”

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has said that climate action would be 138% more expensive if not impossible without widespread deployment of CCS technology.

“Affordable, reliable and accessible electricity is the foundation of prosperity in the modern world. Each nation will choose an energy mix that best meets its needs and for most countries, coal will continue to play a significant role. We believe real solutions to climate change will only come through technological change and action on all low emission technologies, including HELE and CCUS,” Sporton said.