Transition: the Only Option

The urgency of reducing coal usage and transitioning away from fossil fuels has become increasingly evident at UNFCCC COP26 and reached a new milestone at COP28, when global commitments to “phase down on coal” and a roadmap to “transition away from fossil fuels” were made respectively. At the forefront of this movement is China, which has pledged to peak carbon emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060. This dual carbon pledge has spurred proactive measures, especially in coal-heavy regions like Shanxi Province.

Shanxi Province is China's largest coal producer and has historically shouldered the responsibility of ensuring energy supply for the country. However, with the national focus shifting towards green, low-carbon development, Shanxi has embraced the“challenge of the energy transition”. The province's initiatives include strict controls on coal consumption, promoting high-quality development of solar and wind power, and implementing industrial demonstration programs for hydrogen energy. These measures are not only transforming Shanxi's energy landscape but also positioning it as a leader to support China's broader carbon peak and carbon neutrality goals.

Its journey towards a greener future is a testament to the transformative power of determined policies and strategic initiatives. At the same time, Shanxi faces overwhelming challenges including slow progresses in non-coal sectors that could support the growth of local economies and employment.

Shanxi's case underscores the vital role of regions with heavy coal legacies, such as South Sumatra and East Kalimantan in Indonesia, in spearheading the global energy transition. The said two provinces, as Indonesia's largest coal producers, also face environmental challenges due to coal mining while trying to shift towards solar and wind energy, with the country's commitment to achieving net zero emission (NZE) in 2060 or earlier. President Jokowi said at COP28 that“Indonesia is accelerating the energy transition by developing renewable energy and reducing the use of coal-fired power plants”.

At the 1st“Coal-Free Future Forum”organized by People of Asia for Climate Solutions in 2022, delegates from the Indonesian Embassy to China and the Department of Energy from East Kalimantan Province, Shanxi Dual Carbon Energy Revolution Institute, etc. presented their shared challenges and ambitions for a future without coal reliance.

Two years later, it is time to resume the dialogue and escalate it into action. PACS has partnered up again with more Shanxi energy thinktanks for the 2nd “Coal-Free Future Forum”, which includes a 3-day fieldtrip to different types of energy transition practices in Shanxi and face-to-face conversations with governments, researchers, NGOs from both sides.