More than 40 countries pledged to phase out coal, the dirtiest fossil fuel, in a deal announced Thursday at the United Nations climate summit. But several of the biggest coal consumers were notably absent from the accord, including China and India, which together burn roughly two-thirds of the world’s coal, as well as Australia, the world’s 11th-biggest user of coal and a major exporter. Also not signing the pledge, the United States, which still generates about one-fifth of its electricity from coal, did not agree to stop coal development at home but promised to halt overseas funding of oil, gas and coal.
By Brad Plumer and Lisa Friedman. New York Times. November 4, 2021.
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