EU coal phase-out faces hurdles due to job losses and energy crises, with some nations delaying clean energy transitions.
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Coal, the most polluting fossil fuel, is set to decline in the European Union, though the transition is complex. Currently, coal still accounts for 13% to 17% of EU electricity, and while some countries have stopped using it, others, like Germany, Bulgaria, and Czechia, plan to continue for the next decade. Poland remains a major user, relying on coal for 70% of its 2022 electricity, with plans to extend coal use until 2049. The transition is complicated by job losses, as coal mines and power plants employ around 208,000 people across the EU, mainly in Poland, Romania, and Bulgaria. Some member states are skeptical of EU proposals without adequate plans for affected workers, while others, like Belgium and Portugal, have successfully phased out coal. Although coal generates significantly more CO2 than natural gas and EU plans aim for carbon neutrality by 2050, a UN report indicates that current global emission reduction goals, including those of the EU, still lead to warming far exceeding the 1.5°C to 2°C target set by the Paris Agreement. Furthermore, the EU’s coal consumption saw a recent increase due to the pandemic and the energy crisis following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, leading some countries to delay decarbonization timelines.
