Coal power is being phased out to limit global temperature rises to 1.5°C and improve air quality. Credit: Maksim Safaniuk/Shutterstock.

The UK Government has announced plans to introduce legislation as soon as possible to halt the issuance of new coal mining licences as part of its clean energy transition efforts.

Coal power, the leading contributor to energy-related CO₂ emissions globally, is being phased out to limit global temperature rises to 1.5°C and improve air quality.

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Britain’s last coal-fired power station, at Ratcliffe on Soar, closed in October, marking the end of coal’s contribution to the UK’s electricity supply, which stood at around 40% in 2012.

The transition from coal to clean energy is accelerating, with the government investing in domestic clean energy sources including carbon capture and hydrogen.

This shift is expected to generate hundreds of thousands of new jobs and revitalise the UK’s industrial regions.

At the COP29 Summit in Baku, Azerbaijan, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer unveiled the Clean Industry Bonus, offering £27m ($34m) per gigawatt to offshore wind developers investing in the UK’s historic industrial heartlands and coastal areas, as well as oil and gas communities.

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At the summit, the prime minister said that the country aims to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 81% from 1990 levels by 2035, as part of government plans to achieve net zero by 2050.

UK Energy Minister Michael Shanks said: “Coal mining powered this country for over 140 years and we owe a huge debt to workers who kept the lights on for homes and businesses across the country. 

“Now the UK is in prime position to lead the way in phasing out coal power around the world, which remains the single largest contributor to global emissions. 

“By consigning coal power to the past, we can pave the way for a clean, secure energy system that will protect billpayers and create a new generation of skilled workers.”

The International Energy Agency reports that coal remains the largest source of energy-related CO₂ emissions, responsible for 45% of emissions from fuel combustion in 2022, followed by oil at 33%.