From Coal to Clean: UK Progress and International Influence on Coal Phase-Out

The Powering Past Coal Alliance (PPCA), Chatham House and E3G co-hosted the event From Coal to Clean: UK Progress and International Influence on Coal Phase Out, as part of the inaugural London Climate Action Week.  

From Coal to Clean: UK Progress and International Influence on Coal Phase-Out
From Coal to Clean: UK Progress and International Influence on Coal Phase-Out

Panellists discussed the UK’s recent experience moving from a coal-dominated power system to its first #CoalFreeFortnight in June 2019 and towards a completely coal-free power system by 2025. They also explored the opportunities for the UK to help raise global ambition on coal phase-out through diplomacy, finance, policy and technical knowledge exchange, as well as the UK’s partnership with its international and private sector partners from the PPCA and beyond.

Date & Time: 4 July 2019 - 9:00am to 11:00am

Location: Chatham House, London

Panel 1:

  • Chair: Beth Child, Deputy Director, International Climate Strategy, UK Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS)
  • Mike Thompson, Head of Carbon Budgets, UK Committee on Climate Change
  • Marcia Poletti, Deputy Director, Networks Strategy, Ofgem 
  • Emma Pinchbeck, Deputy CEO, RenewableUK 
  • Julian Leslie, Head of National Control, National Grid 

Panel 2:

  • Chair: Francis Pigeon, Director of Climate Finance and Partnerships, Environment and Climate Change Canada
  • Matt Gray, Senior Analyst, Utilities & Power, Carbon Tracker Initiative
  • Ipek Gencsu, Research Fellow, ODI  
  • Nick Spooner, Engagement, Hermes EOS 
  • Chris Littlecott, Associate Director, E3G

The event also featured a screening of the video Blueprint to Transition from Bloomberg Philanthropies and the PPCA, which explores how both the UK and The Netherlands are phasing out coal and increasing electricity generation from wind.

Here are some highlights from our live tweeting of both discussions: