World Coal Association: Coal's role will continue despite all

The Bonn climate talks launched a global coal phase-out process. This, along with other rhetoric about events in the energy sector, will fail to lead many observers to believe that the end of coal is in sight.

Predictions from the recently published International Energy Agency World Energy Outlook 2017 tell a different story. Coal production is expected to grow by 8.6% through 2040, despite the fact that its share of global generation is declining from 37% to 26% as other sources grow.

At 26%, coal will remain the single largest source of electricity generation until 2040.

Energy demand in Southeast Asia is projected to grow 65.1% by 2040 compared to 2016 levels, most of which will be coal-fired.

India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Southeast Asia have become the main engines of future growth in coal demand. Coal demand in India will more than double by 2040, while demand for coal in Southeast Asia will grow by almost 2.5 times.

Many countries will continue to invest in coal power because fuel remains affordable and reliable, while new coal technology makes coal use cleaner. Coal will continue to be the largest source of electricity in 2040. Therefore, it is imperative that politicians talk about coal and treat the goals of the Paris Agreement with a sense of reality.