The Powering Past Coal Alliance (PPCA) 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.

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

Albania Angola Austria Azerbaijan Bahrain Belgium Canada Chile Colombia Costa Rica Croatia Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Dominican Republic El Salvador Estonia Ethiopia Fiji Finland France Germany Greece Honduras Hungary Iceland Ireland Israel Italy Latvia Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Kosovo Malta Marshall Islands Mauritius Mexico Montenegro Morocco Netherlands New Zealand Niue North Macedonia Norway Panama Peru Portugal Senegal Singapore Slovakia Slovenia South Korea Spain Sweden Switzerland Tuvalu Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom United States Uruguay Vanuatu

Sub-national entities

Alberta, Canada Australian Capital Territory, Australia Baden-Württemberg, Germany Balearic Islands, Spain British Columbia, Canada California, US Colorado, US Connecticut, US Daegu, South Korea Durban, South Africa Eastern Wielkopolska, Poland Gangwon, South Korea Guimaras, Philippines Gyeonggi, South Korea Hawaii, US Honolulu, US Ilocos Norte, Philippines Incheon, South Korea Jeju, South Korea Jeollanam, South Korea Kaohsiung City Koszalin, Poland Kyoto City Los Angeles, US Masbate, Philippines Melbourne, Australia Minnesota, US Negros Occidental, Philippines Negros Oriental, Philippines New Jersey, US New Mexico, US New Taipei City New York, US Ontario, Canada Oregon, US Ormoc, Philippines Philadelphia, US Puerto Rico Quebec, Canada Rotterdam, Netherlands Scotland, UK Seoul, South Korea South Chungcheong, South Korea Sydney, Australia Taichung City, Taiwan Taoyuan City, Taiwan Vancouver, Canada Wales, UK Wałbrzych, Poland Washington, US Wielkopolska, Poland

Businesses and other organisations

ACEN Aberdeen Standard Investments Alterra Power Amundi ArcTern Ventures Autodesk Avant Garde Innovations Aviva Axa Investment Managers BT Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec Caisse des dépôts et consignations CalPERS Capital Power CCLA Investment Management Limited Central Finance Board of the Methodist Church and Epworth IM Church Commissioners for England Church of England Pensions Board Desjardins Group Diageo Drax DSM DTEK Econet Group EcoSmart EDPhttps://steelguru.com/coal/edp-joins-powering-past-coal-alliance-to-end-coal-power-generation/563368#:~:text=Coal%20News%20%2D%20Published%20on%20Mon%2C%2021%20Sep%202020&text=EDP%20is%20one%20of%20the,from%20unabated%20coal%20power%20generation. Electricité de France (EDF) Eneva Engie Ethos Foundation Export Development Canada Fidelity International GAM Generation Investment Management GeoExchange Coalition GreenScience Hermes Investment Management HSBC Iberdrola Impax Asset Management Indika Energy Kering Legal & General Lloyds Bank M&G Plc Marks and Spencer Mott MacDonald National Grid National Grid (ESO) Natura Cosmetics NatWest Ontario Power Generation Ørsted Pacific Islands Development Forum PensionDanmark Robeco Salesforce Schroders SCOR Global Investments Scottish Power SSE Standard Chartered Stichting Pensioenfonds ABP Storebrand Swiss Re TransAlta Unilever United Church of Canada Vancity Varma Mutual Pension Insurance Company Virgin Group XPND Capital ZE PAK

See also Peak coal Beyond Coal Under2 Coalition C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative

References

External links