Coal-fired power plants have helped build economies around the world. However, the greenhouse gas emissions produced by these plants are the largest ever compared to other energy sources, at about 67 percent of the total global emissions.
Tackling these emissions demands innovative solutions, large financial resources and political courage to shut down these plants.
Today, there are around 8,500 coal power plants in operation worldwide. And while cutting emissions has become a key global priority to combat climate change, more than 300 new coal power plants are slated to come online in the coming five years.
China is the world's largest emitter of carbon dioxide from coal combustion, followed by Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Poland, Russia, South Africa, South Korea and the United States.
