The inexorable decline of coal production in Europe continues. The latest data released by Eurostat reveal that in 2019 65 million tonnes of hard coal were produced in the EU-27, 77 per cent less than the 270 million tonnes recorded in 1990. Only two countries remain producers: Poland (with 95 per cent, 61.6 million tonnes) and the Czech Republic (5 per cent, 3.4 million tonnes).

Consumption has also fallen, with coal used mostly for electricity and heat production. After a sharp decline and a brief recovery between 2008 and 2011, consumption continued to drop. In 2019, coal consumption was 55 per cent lower than the 390 million tonnes recorded in 1990, settling at around 179 million tonnes.

Germany remains the largest coal consumer

In 1990, there were still 13 member states producing hard coal. Compared with 2012, which was the last production peak at 123 million tonnes, it is worth noting that both Poland and the Czech Republic have reduced their output, by 22 per cent and 70 per cent respectively.

EU_Eurostat @EU_Eurostat

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Did you know that in 2019 two Member States produced hard coal: 🇵🇱 Poland (61.6 million tonnes) and 🇨🇿 Czechia (3.4 million tonnes) ❓

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➡️ For more information: ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/p…

♥ 26💬 3 9 lug 2020 · Apri su X →

Among the major consumers, Germany remains at the top for both lignite and so-called hard coal. The fact remains that renewables in Germany covered 44 per cent of demand in the first months of 2020, while coal stood at around 28 per cent.

Europe's roadmap to 2030

According to a study by the Agora Energiewende working group, entitled "European Energy Transition 2030: The Big Picture", current European climate targets require that coal consumption be cut by two thirds by 2030, equivalent to around 118 million tonnes over the next ten years. Furthermore, the share of renewable energy in the EU's energy mix will need to double by 2030 to replace these fossil fuels.

"The Eurostat data confirm a trend that has been under way in Europe — and beyond — for decades: coal mines are a residual presence, concentrated in Eastern European countries, particularly Poland and the Czech Republic. Credit goes to the energy transition, and also to job opportunities that are now firmly established in other sectors, especially those of the Green Economy, which have proved to be counter-cyclical," Mariagrazia Midulla, head of climate and energy at Wwf Italia, explains to LifeGate. "Also important for the old continent has been the functioning of the emissions trading system (Ets), which is demonstrating remarkable vitality following the corrections made, and which could have even more if a minimum carbon price were established. We certainly shed no tears over the end of a fossil fuel that has caused — and still causes, given that it is still, albeit to a limited extent, imported and burned — a devastating impact on the health of millions of people and enormous damage to the climate and the environment. Rather, we must unquestionably support the transition — just, but far more rapid — even in those countries that still struggle to implement it."