Coal use to decline next year after record high in 2023: IEA

PARIS, Dec 15 (AFP): World coal consumption should start declining next year after peaking in 2023, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said Friday.
The IEA's latest forecast came after nearly 200 countries at the COP28 UN climate talks adopted a deal stating that the world will be "transitioning away from fossil fuels" to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 and limit global warming.
Coal is the largest energy-related source of the CO2 emissions responsible along with other greenhouse gases for global warming.
Scientists say the planet has already warmed by 1.2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and expect 2023 to be the hottest year on record as storms, droughts and lethal wildfires expand around the world.