Powering Past Coal Alliance


The Powering Past Coal Alliance is a group of 188 countries, cities, regions and organisations aiming to accelerate the coal phase-out of coal-fired power stations, except the very few which have carbon capture and storage. It has been described as a "non-proliferation treaty" for fossil fuels. The project was undertaken with financial support from the Government of Canada, through their environmental department known as Environment and Climate Change Canada.
WWW poweringpastcoal.org𝕏 PastCoal

History

The Alliance was launched by Canada and the UK at the COP23 climate summit in November 2017. Announcing the launch, Climate Action Network-Canada Executive Director Catherine Abreu said: "Canada and the UK are right to kick-start the Alliance, as science tells us that OECD countries need to phase out coal by 2030 at the latest".
By the end of the summit, membership had grown to include over 20 countries, regions and organizations. Within a month membership had grown to over 50. Its purpose is to establish a new international norm, or "standard of appropriate behaviour", that coal should not be burned for power.
In April 2018 a research partnership was announced with Bloomberg Philanthropies.
In October 2018 the South Korean province of South Chungcheong became the first jurisdiction in Asia and the largest user of coal power to join the Alliance. In December 2018 Sydney, Melbourne, Scotland, Scottish Power, Senegal and Israel also joined and in September 2019 seven new members joined including Germany and Slovakia.
In June 2020 6 global finance organisations joined including Desjardins Group, the first major North American financial institution to join.
During 2021 at least 38 new members joined including Hungary, Uruguay, Chile, Estonia, Singapore, Slovenia and Ukraine.
During 2023 at least 15 new members joined including The Czech Republic, Morocco, Colombia and the United States.

Aims

Alliance members agree that:
  • Governments/states will phase out existing traditional coal power.
  • Governments/states will create a moratorium on any new traditional coal power stations without operational carbon capture and storage.
  • Businesses/organisations will power operations without coal.
  • Members will ensure policies and investments support clean power.
  • Members will restrict financing for traditional coal power without carbon capture and storage.

Reaction

Reacting to the launch, Tracy Carty of Oxfam said the Alliance "represents real and tangible progress in the fight against climate change."
Business change organisation The B Team welcomed the Alliance, and argued that exiting coal must happen as a just transition that protects vulnerable workers and communities such as coal mining communities.

Progress

As of 2025, the US has closed, or planned closure of, 65% of coal plants, Europe has planned the retirement of 50% of its coal fleet, and Canada has reduced its coal capacity by 83%.
Several countries have closed all of their coal plants including:
  • Belgium closed its last coal plant in 2016.
  • Austria closed its last coal plant in 2020.
  • Sweden closed its last coal plant in 2020.
  • The UAE converted its only coal plant to natural gas in 2022.
  • Norway closed its last coal plant in 2023.
  • United Kingdom closed its last coal plant in 2024.
  • Ireland closed its last coal plant in 2025.
Ethiopia had planned what would have been its only coal plant in 2011, but it is not being built.

Members

Members of the Powering Past Coal Alliance as of November 2025 were:

Nations

  1. Albania
  2. Angola
  3. Austria
  4. Azerbaijan
  5. Bahrain
  6. Belgium
  7. Canada
  8. Chile
  9. Colombia
  10. Costa Rica
  11. Croatia
  12. Cyprus
  13. Czech Republic
  14. Denmark
  15. Dominican Republic
  16. El Salvador
  17. Estonia
  18. Ethiopia
  19. Fiji
  20. Finland
  21. France
  22. Germany
  23. Greece
  24. Honduras
  25. Hungary
  26. Iceland
  27. Ireland
  28. Israel
  29. Italy
  30. Latvia
  31. Liechtenstein
  32. Lithuania
  33. Luxembourg
  34. Kosovo
  35. Malta
  36. Marshall Islands
  37. Mauritius
  38. Mexico
  39. Montenegro
  40. Morocco
  41. Netherlands
  42. New Zealand
  43. Niue
  44. North Macedonia
  45. Norway
  46. Panama
  47. Peru
  48. Portugal
  49. Senegal
  50. Singapore
  51. Slovakia
  52. Slovenia
  53. South Korea
  54. Spain
  55. Sweden
  56. Switzerland
  57. Tuvalu
  58. Uganda
  59. Ukraine
  60. United Arab Emirates
  61. United Kingdom
  62. United States
  63. Uruguay
  64. Vanuatu

Sub-national entities

  1. Alberta, Canada
  2. Australian Capital Territory, Australia
  3. Baden-Württemberg, Germany
  4. Balearic Islands, Spain
  5. British Columbia, Canada
  6. California, US
  7. Colorado, US
  8. Connecticut, US
  9. Daegu, South Korea
  10. Durban, South Africa
  11. Eastern Wielkopolska, Poland
  12. Gangwon, South Korea
  13. Guimaras, Philippines
  14. Gyeonggi, South Korea
  15. Hawaii, US
  16. Honolulu, US
  17. Ilocos Norte, Philippines
  18. Incheon, South Korea
  19. Jeju, South Korea
  20. Jeollanam, South Korea
  21. Kaohsiung City
  22. Koszalin, Poland
  23. Kyoto City
  24. Los Angeles, US
  25. Masbate, Philippines
  26. Melbourne, Australia
  27. Minnesota, US
  28. Negros Occidental, Philippines
  29. Negros Oriental, Philippines
  30. New Jersey, US
  31. New Mexico, US
  32. New Taipei City
  33. New York, US
  34. Ontario, Canada
  35. Oregon, US
  36. Ormoc, Philippines
  37. Philadelphia, US
  38. Puerto Rico
  39. Quebec, Canada
  40. Rotterdam, Netherlands
  41. Scotland, UK
  42. Seoul, South Korea
  43. South Chungcheong, South Korea
  44. Sydney, Australia
  45. Taichung City, Taiwan
  46. Taoyuan City, Taiwan
  47. Vancouver, Canada
  48. Wales, UK
  49. Wałbrzych, Poland
  50. Washington, US
  51. Wielkopolska, Poland

Businesses and other organisations

  1. ACEN
  2. Aberdeen Standard Investments
  3. Alterra Power
  4. Amundi
  5. ArcTern Ventures
  6. Autodesk
  7. Avant Garde Innovations
  8. Aviva
  9. Axa Investment Managers
  10. BT
  11. Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec
  12. Caisse des dépôts et consignations
  13. CalPERS
  14. Capital Power
  15. CCLA Investment Management Limited
  16. Central Finance Board of the Methodist Church and Epworth IM
  17. Church Commissioners for England
  18. Church of England Pensions Board
  19. Desjardins Group
  20. Diageo
  21. Drax
  22. DSM
  23. DTEK
  24. Econet Group
  25. EcoSmart
  26. EDP
  27. Electricité de France (EDF)
  28. Eneva
  29. Engie
  30. Ethos Foundation
  31. Export Development Canada
  32. Fidelity International
  33. GAM
  34. Generation Investment Management
  35. GeoExchange Coalition
  36. GreenScience
  37. Hermes Investment Management
  38. HSBC
  39. Iberdrola
  40. Impax Asset Management
  41. Indika Energy
  42. Kering
  43. Legal & General
  44. Lloyds Bank
  45. M&G Plc
  46. Marks and Spencer
  47. Mott MacDonald
  48. National Grid
  49. National Grid (ESO)
  50. Natura Cosmetics
  51. NatWest
  52. Ontario Power Generation
  53. Ørsted
  54. Pacific Islands Development Forum
  55. PensionDanmark
  56. Robeco
  57. Salesforce
  58. Schroders
  59. SCOR Global Investments
  60. Scottish Power
  61. SSE
  62. Standard Chartered
  63. Stichting Pensioenfonds ABP
  64. Storebrand
  65. Swiss Re
  66. TransAlta
  67. Unilever
  68. United Church of Canada
  69. Vancity
  70. Varma Mutual Pension Insurance Company
  71. Virgin Group
  72. XPND Capital
  73. ZE PAK