Der weltweite Kohleverbrauch erreicht im Jahr 2024 ein Rekordhoch

>Though most governments are supposed to be aiming to “phase down” coal use after a [commitment made in 2021](https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/nov/13/cop26-countries-agree-to-accept-imperfect-climate-agreement), some are pushing ahead with the most polluting fuel. India’s prime minister, Narendra Modi, celebrated [surpassing 1bn tonnes of coal production](https://ddnews.gov.in/en/india-hits-1-billion-tonnes-coal-production-pm-modi-calls-it-a-proud-moment/) this year, and in the US Donald Trump has [declared his support for coal and other fossil fuels](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/sep/29/trump-spending-coal-industry).

Traitors to humanity? Would that be a correct term?

So much for US homeowners and solar panels and coastal USA windfarms in fishing water. We didn’t Save the world from climate change, but our taxes went up to pay for climate change saving do nothing toys.

But China is leading the way in Solar output, oh and I forgot Coal usage too.

China and India have been sprinting through their industrial revolutions and their billion+ populace (each) is getting hooked up to the grid.

B-b-b-b-ut the world needs the UK to be leaders in clean energy, that way they will all follow us they said…

China is on the clean energy path and reducing emissions daily, while the rest of the world isn’t keeping up.

Solar energy alone will surpass coal as the main source of electricity by 2026 and goal is to be off in 5 years.

End of day, they’re the only country reducing emissions at this rate and North America is doing the opposite, while letting China rule the world in green technology.

[NY Times – China is the Adult in the room now](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/26/opinion/china-solar-electric-vehicles-climate-change.html?unlocked_article_code=1.o08.cFFs.0Sc0THJMwrvU&smid=url-share)

And while China’s coal plants are breathlessly brought up any time there’s news about their renewable energy, the reality is their emissions have peaked and have now started falling. Coal plants or not.

China is shutting down a lot of older, smaller, less efficient and dirtier coal power plants and replacing them with bigger, more efficient coal power plants.

Also, while they’re building more coal-fired power plants, they are not running them nearly as much. Just building backup for when wind isn’t blowing and sun isn’t shining for long.

The more renewable they build, the less they need to build or run those coal plants.

Lastly, China has so many solar panels that even its own grid can’t support all the energy produced.
https://www.businessinsider.com/china-solar-panel-supply-overcapacity-power-grid-demand-support-energy-2024-5

China burns half the world’s coal in case you were wondering. 

Then India at 11%. America at 8.5%. Everyone else is at 3% or less. 

Don’t my paper straw usage will offset all this!

But is that more because total energy generation is going up? The chart in the article itself shows that energy generation by coal, as a percentage of global electricity generation is at it’s lowest point (34%)