International Energy Agency calls for phase out of Victorian coal by 2030

In response to the International Energy Agency’s Net Zero by 2050 report released today, Environment Victoria campaigns manager Dr Nicholas Aberle said:

“This new report is a landmark for the global energy transition. The world’s most influential energy agency has effectively called for about 90 percent of Australia’s coal power stations to close by 2030, including all the coal power stations in Victoria.

“One of the report’s key milestones is that all ‘subcritical’ coal power stations in advanced economies need to be phased out by 2030.

“In other words, every coal power station in Victoria and NSW needs to be phased out within the decade to meet this global pathway for net zero emissions, which developed countries need to reach well before 2050.

“This shows AGL’s plan to keep operating Loy Yang power station in the Latrobe Valley until 2048 is a complete fantasy. Federal and state governments need to redouble efforts to plan for a worker and community transition because the world is moving beyond coal very very quickly.

“The IEA also says we need an ‘unprecedented clean technology push to 2030’, and that an ‘unparalleled clean energy investment boom’ will lift global economic growth,” said Dr Aberle.