Page 5 - AsiaElec Week 43 2020

AsiaElec COMMENTARY AsiaElec

fuel. On the other hand, Indonesia is one of a
number of emerging economies in Southeast the same as all the CO2 from all other fossil fuels
Asia still committed to building new coal gen- combined.
erating plants.
Long term
Net-zero requirements On the other hand, South Korea, Japan and
The IEA’s recent World Energy Outlook warned China’s goals are all long-term, with 2050 as
that for global net-zero emissions to be reached the target. This means that Australia and other
by 2050 to be a realistic target, then coal’s use as exporters may well have time to change their
a generating fuel has to fall by 75-80% by 2030. export strategy.
This target would potentially bring coal use But change they must, just as their major cus-
and emissions into line with the demands of the tomers in Asia reduce fossil fuel imports over the
International Panel on Climate Change, which next three decades.
has outlined a scenario where coal consumption Indeed, Carbon Brief noted this week that
must fall by 80% in order to limit global warming China, Japan and South Korea’s decisions mean
to 1.5 degrees. that two thirds of the world’s coal use and nearly
Crucially, the IEA’s World Energy Outlook half its CO2 emissions are now covered by
said that the 2050 net-zero target would also national or regional net-zero goals.
require inefficient “sub-critical” coal power Nevertheless, although governments have
plants need to be completely phased out by declared their policy goals, what is needed now
2030, leaving just more modern supercritical, is detailed policies to be put in place that have
advanced and CHP generation technology to the clout to maintain momentum over three
taper off until 2050. decades.
The IEA’s modelling calls for CO2 emissions They must also be robust enough to fight the
from coal-fired generation to fall by 8bn tonnes, entrenched interests of fossil fuel companies.™

Week 43 28•October•2020 www. NEWSBASE .com P5