Macron at Davos: I will shut all coal-fired power stations by 2021
President Emmanuel Macron said a green strategy could create jobs. Image: REUTERS/Jean-Paul Pelissier
Ceri Parker, Commissioning Editor, Agenda, World Economic Forum
This article is part of the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting
France will shut down all coal-fired power stations by 2021, President Emmanuel Macron said in an energetic speech to participants at Davos.
President Macron said he wanted to “make France a model in the fight against climate change,” as one of five pillars in his plans to reform the economy.
“That is a huge advantage in terms of attractiveness and competitiveness. Talent will come where it is good to live. We can create a lot of jobs with such a strategy,” he said.
Across the European Union, the economic tide is already turning against coal power: more than half of the bloc’s 619 coal-powered plants are losing money, according to a report. A combination of rapidly falling prices for renewables and air pollution laws are pushing them out of business.
President Macron also called for the EU, which already opened the world’s first carbon trading market, to “go a little bit further and create a floor price for CO2.” Carbon markets work by providing a financial incentive to pollute less; many experts have called for a minimum price on carbon to boost progress.
Not long returned from a meeting with China’s President Xi Jinping, President Macron acknowledged the Chinese leader’s commitment to the Paris Agreement.
Looking ahead to the gargantuan infrastructure project set to link China with Europe, Macron said:
“The new Silk Road has to be a green road. We cannot have a coal-based route.”
Whether silken or green, it will still be a bumpy road ahead to keep warming within the 2°C
targeted by the Paris agreement.
“On climate change, we’re losing the battle,” Macron said, adding that the world needed concrete action and results by 2020.
Originally published at www.weforum.org.
Comments (3)
Charlie said
at 2:19 am on Mar 28, 2021
Did Macron or anyone in France shut down coal fired power stations? It is happening here in Australia though there is some criticism from certain sections of the political spectrum, and even some who want a new coal power station to be built.
Charlie said
at 2:33 am on Mar 28, 2021
While the Australian government has no plans to assist the workforce of coal fired power stations that are closing down; in some measure. The closure will be very painful. https://theconversation.com/the-death-of-coal-fired-power-is-inevitable-yet-the-government-still-has-no-plan-to-help-its-workforce-156863 As well, Australia should not allow mining giants to garb coal mining leases, to mine and sell coal to other countries. Not rocket science. Demand and supply of materials that will damage the earth just isn't reasonable, except to those extremely greedy.
Charlie said
at 2:44 am on Mar 28, 2021
We should do much like this:
"If you want to build a ship, do not drum up the men to gather wood, divide the
work and give orders. Instead, teach them to yearn for the vast and endless
sea." ---- Antoine de Saint-Exupery
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