Powering Past Coal Alliance

The Powering Past Coal Alliance (PPCA) is a group of 186 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.^[2][3][4] It has been described as a "non-proliferation treaty" for fossil fuels.^[5] The project was undertaken with financial support from the Government of Canada, through their environmental department known as Environment and Climate Change Canada.^[6]

Powering Past Coal Alliance

Map of members
Formation	16 November 2017; 7 years ago (2017-11-16)[1]
Type	International environmental organization
Region served	Worldwide
Website	poweringpastcoal.org

Belchatow Power Station in Poland, Europe's most polluting power plant, which is scheduled to close in 2036

History

The Nanticoke Generating Station in Ontario, one of the largest power plants to be shut as part of Ontario's coal phaseout

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”.^[1][7]

By the end of the summit, membership had grown to include over 20 countries, regions and organizations.^[8] Within a month membership had grown to over 50.^[9] Its purpose is to establish a new international norm, or “standard of appropriate behaviour”, that coal should not be burned for power.^[2]

In April 2018 a research partnership was announced with Bloomberg Philanthropies.^[10]

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.^[11][12] In December 2018 Sydney, Melbourne, Scotland, Scottish Power, Senegal and Israel also joined^[13] and in September 2019 seven new members joined including Germany and Slovakia.^[5][14]

In June 2020 6 global finance organisations joined including Desjardins Group, the first major North American financial institution to join.^[15]

During 2021 at least 38 new members joined including Hungary, Uruguay,^[16] Chile, Estonia, Singapore, Slovenia and Ukraine.^[17]

During 2023 at least 15 new members joined including The Czech Republic, Morocco, Colombia and the United States.^[18]

Aims

Coal use for power by country and territory in 2022–23.^[19] Powering Past Coal Alliance (PPCA) membership also indicated.
_ Coal >50% of grid electricity
_ Coal 10–50% of grid electricity
_ Coal 10–50% of grid electricity (PPCA member)
_ Coal <10% of grid electricity
_ Coal <10% of grid electricity (PPCA member)
_ Coal <0.1% of grid electricity
_ No data

Alliance members agree that:^[9]

• 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."^[20]

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.^[21]

Progress

As of 2025, the US has closed, or planned closure of, 65% of coal plants, while in Europe 50% of the coal fleet is planned for retirement.^[22]

Several countries have closed all of their coal plants including:

• Belgium closed its last coal plant in 2016.^[23]
• Austria closed its last coal plant in 2020.^[24]
• Sweden closed its last coal plant in 2020.^[25]
• The UAE converted its only coal plant to natural gas in 2022.^[26]
• Norway closed its last coal plant in 2023.^[27]
• The UK closed its last coal plant in 2024.^[28]

Ethiopia had planned what would have been its only coal plant in 2011, but it is not being built.^[29]

Members

Members of the Powering Past Coal Alliance as of May 2025 were:^[30]

Nations

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

See also

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