Issue
- The issue of banning coal for the production of electricity. |
Sebastian Urdaneta
Chair |
Talia Hernandez
Co-Chair |
ISSUE #1: The issue of banning coal for the production of electricity.
Background information:
Coal is the world's most abundant energy source, with China, India, the United States, and Japan producing more than three-quarters of the world's coal-fired electricity. China and Japan are two of the world's top five coal-fired power-producing countries. Despite a number of countries stating intentions to move away from high-polluting fossil fuels, the two largest Asian economies, which are both among the world's highest emitters, continue to rely largely on coal power. According to climate research group Ember’s Global Electricity Review, coal generation declined by a record 4% (-346 terawatt-hours (TWh)) in 2020, indicating that the transition is starting to have an impact on the global energy mix. However, the fuel will continue to be the world's single largest power source, generating 34% of global electricity in 2020, according to the study (8,736 TWh). Coal power, being the most carbon-intensive source of electricity, must fall by 14% each year this decade to put the world on track to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. According to Ember's study, China, India, the United States, and Japan account for more than three-quarters of the world's coal-fired electricity, or 6,626 TWh. In this report, NS Energy examines the world's largest coal-fired power-generating countries in 2020. Coal shortages are currently producing electricity supply issues in India and China, two of the world's largest coal-consuming economies. Shortages are occurring because economic activity is increasing while coronavirus levels in most nations remain steady, while coal production is decreasing owing to weather issues and environmental concerns.
According to Ember, India still gets 70% of its electricity from coal, which is the world's sixth highest percentage. China, which has been extolling its renewable energy initiatives, is still highly reliant on coal, which accounts for over 61 percent of the country's electricity generation. As their economies grow, both countries are investing in a variety of energy technologies, including nuclear, coal, and renewables. Botswana was the world's most coal-dependent country. The South African country nearly entirely relies on coal for energy generation, whereas Kosovo, a small Balkan republic, uses coal for 95 percent of its electricity output. Eastern and South-Eastern European countries are significantly represented among the top ten coal-dependent countries, although Mongolia and South Africa are other notable examples of global coal dependency.
Important Questions:
Ideas for Resolutions:
Helpful Links:
Works Cited
Buchholz, Katharina, and Felix Richter. “Infographic: The Countries Most Reliant on Coal.” Statista Infographics, 6 Oct. 2021, www.statista.com/chart/25922/coal-share-in-electricity-generation/.
“Profiling the Top Five Largest Coal-Fired Power Generating Countries in 2020.” NS Energy, 28 May 2021, www.nsenergybusiness.com/features/coal-fired-power-generating-countries/.
Written by Sebastian Brixey-Williams, Digital Content Producer. “Which Countries Are Least Dependent on Fossil Fuels?” World Economic Forum, www.weforum.org/agenda/2015/10/which-countries-are-least-dependent-on-fossil-fuels/.
Background information:
Coal is the world's most abundant energy source, with China, India, the United States, and Japan producing more than three-quarters of the world's coal-fired electricity. China and Japan are two of the world's top five coal-fired power-producing countries. Despite a number of countries stating intentions to move away from high-polluting fossil fuels, the two largest Asian economies, which are both among the world's highest emitters, continue to rely largely on coal power. According to climate research group Ember’s Global Electricity Review, coal generation declined by a record 4% (-346 terawatt-hours (TWh)) in 2020, indicating that the transition is starting to have an impact on the global energy mix. However, the fuel will continue to be the world's single largest power source, generating 34% of global electricity in 2020, according to the study (8,736 TWh). Coal power, being the most carbon-intensive source of electricity, must fall by 14% each year this decade to put the world on track to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. According to Ember's study, China, India, the United States, and Japan account for more than three-quarters of the world's coal-fired electricity, or 6,626 TWh. In this report, NS Energy examines the world's largest coal-fired power-generating countries in 2020. Coal shortages are currently producing electricity supply issues in India and China, two of the world's largest coal-consuming economies. Shortages are occurring because economic activity is increasing while coronavirus levels in most nations remain steady, while coal production is decreasing owing to weather issues and environmental concerns.
According to Ember, India still gets 70% of its electricity from coal, which is the world's sixth highest percentage. China, which has been extolling its renewable energy initiatives, is still highly reliant on coal, which accounts for over 61 percent of the country's electricity generation. As their economies grow, both countries are investing in a variety of energy technologies, including nuclear, coal, and renewables. Botswana was the world's most coal-dependent country. The South African country nearly entirely relies on coal for energy generation, whereas Kosovo, a small Balkan republic, uses coal for 95 percent of its electricity output. Eastern and South-Eastern European countries are significantly represented among the top ten coal-dependent countries, although Mongolia and South Africa are other notable examples of global coal dependency.
Important Questions:
- What will an immediate ban of coal do to the world economy?
- How will this affect lower income countries?
- Is it possible to completely ban coal?
Ideas for Resolutions:
Helpful Links:
- https://www.unicef.org/media/current-issues
- http://hrlibrary.umn.edu/edumat/studyguides/sexualorientation.html
- https://www.hrw.org/report/2009/06/11/together-apart/organizing-around-sexual-orientation-and-gender-identity-worldwide
Works Cited
Buchholz, Katharina, and Felix Richter. “Infographic: The Countries Most Reliant on Coal.” Statista Infographics, 6 Oct. 2021, www.statista.com/chart/25922/coal-share-in-electricity-generation/.
“Profiling the Top Five Largest Coal-Fired Power Generating Countries in 2020.” NS Energy, 28 May 2021, www.nsenergybusiness.com/features/coal-fired-power-generating-countries/.
Written by Sebastian Brixey-Williams, Digital Content Producer. “Which Countries Are Least Dependent on Fossil Fuels?” World Economic Forum, www.weforum.org/agenda/2015/10/which-countries-are-least-dependent-on-fossil-fuels/.