Speaking in response to the publication of the papal encyclical on the environment, WCA CEO Benjamin Sporton said: “Pope Francis has highlighted the huge challenge we face in reducing global carbon dioxide emissions. If we are to significantly cut carbon dioxide emissions, it is essential that we recognise the vital role of coal in many countries and look at ways to reduce emissions from coal use.”

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), global electricity from coal is expected to grow by around 33% to 2040. Demand for coal in southeast Asia alone is expected to increase 4.8% a year through to 2035.

“The reason for this growth is that there are very real energy needs to be met – 1.3 billion people live in energy poverty; 2.7 billion people do not have clean cooking facilities and rely on dung and wood. Coal plays a critical role in bringing affordable, reliable electricity to hundreds of millions of people in developing and emerging economies, particularly across Asia,” Sporton said.

“All low emission technologies are therefore needed, including 21st century coal technology – high efficiency low emissions power generation and carbon capture, use and storage. We need to focus on practical solutions to meeting global energy needs and cutting global carbon dioxide emissions – they are integrated priorities.”

High efficiency low emissions (HELE) coal technologies provide significant immediate carbon dioxide reductions and are a key step on the pathway to carbon capture, use and storage (CCUS). Raising the average efficiency of the global coal fleet from the current 33% to 40% would save 2 gigatonnes of carbon dioxide emissions – equivalent to India’s annual carbon dioxide emissions or running the Kyoto Protocol three times over.

“To support this, the World Coal Association has proposed a global Platform for Accelerating Coal Efficiency (PACE). PACE’s vision is to support deployment of the most efficient coal-fired power plant technology possible to enable developing and emerging economies to access the benefits of affordable, reliable electricity from coal while minimising carbon dioxide emissions,” Sporton said.

“All sources of energy have a role to play in meeting demand – both in developed and developing countries. While renewables have an important role to play in providing off-grid electricity to domestic users, it is impossible for an economy to develop without access to affordable, reliable, grid-based electricity.

Meanwhile, chair of the Africa Progress Panel, Kofi Annan, has come out in support of the encyclical on climate change by Pope Francis.

“As Pope Francis reaffirms, climate change is an all-encompassing threat: it is a threat to our security, our health, and our sources of fresh water and food. Such conditions could displace tens of millions of people, dwarfing current migration and fuelling further conflicts,” Annan said.

“I applaud the Pope for his strong moral and ethical leadership. We need more of such inspired leadership.”