Cindy Carr, cindy.carr@sierraclub.org or +14129998223 (WhatsApp)
SHARM EL-SHEIKH — Today on Energy Day at COP27, the International Energy Agency (IEA) released its new report entitled, “Coal In Net Zero Transitions: Strategies for rapid, secure and people-centered change.” The report called for “secure, fair, and affordable” transitions from coal to solar and wind, and found that emissions from existing coal-fired power plants will put us over the 1.5-degree threshold if nothing is done to retire those plants quickly. Current net zero pledges account for 95 percent of coal consumption reductions.
At the same time at the G-20 summit in Bali, the US, Japan, and others announced a $20 billion Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) to help Indonesia retire coal plants and move up the country’s peak coal emission date to 2030.
In response, Sierra Club Senior Director of International Climate and Policy Cherelle Blazer issued the following statement:
“The message we’re getting is loud and clear: the era of coal is done. First, the International Energy Agency reaffirmed what the Sierra Club has known for a long time -- we must end global coal use as quickly as possible if we’re going to stay below 1.5 degrees Celsius. Then, some of the world’s biggest economies announced they will be coming together to help Indonesia - one of the countries still most reliant on coal - to peak their coal use by the end of the decade. While we still need to see concrete details and financing must be locked in, this is just the most recent clear signal that the world is on its way to being powered by 100 percent clean, renewable energy.”
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Sierra Club Delegation at COP27 during week two:
- Cherelle Blazer, Senior Director of International Climate and Policy Campaign
- Leslie Fields, National Director of Policy, Advocacy, and Legal
- Steve Herz, International Climate Advisor
- Cindy Carr, communications lead for the International Climate and Policy Campaign
During the negotiations, the Sierra Club will be closely following the negotiations and progress on US climate action and commitments, Loss and Damage, the global coal phase-out, Just Energy Transition Partnerships (JETPs), climate finance, coal diplomacy, and more.
Please contact Cindy Carr (cindy.carr@sierraclub.org or +14129998223 on WhatsApp) to set up interviews.
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.