Happy, but not entirely. The reactions and comments on Italy's decision to phase out coal — the world's dirtiest fossil fuel — by 2025, alongside an alliance led by Canada and the United Kingdom.
Italy wants to quit coal. The news had already circulated in recent months with the announcement of the new national energy strategy (Sen), which envisaged the closure of coal-fired power stations by 2025. Now, however, with the announcement made in Bonn during the twenty-third climate conference (Cop 23) alongside an alliance of almost 20 countries, the promise of the Italian government, voiced by Environment Minister Gian Luca Galletti, takes on a solemn character. Seven years and almost four billion euros to begin the decommissioning of coal-fired power stations. Two figures that give a measure of the urgency and complexity of the operation. But they represent an important step towards achieving the national targets announced with the ratification of the Paris Agreement. If the transition is managed with foresight.
"With this alliance, Italy is moving to exit coal by 2025," declared Minister Galletti, who was present at the event. "We built the Sen on environmental targets based on the Paris Agreement. This goes in the direction of reducing emissions by 40 per cent, reaching a share of 28 per cent of alternative energy in total consumption by 2030 compared to 17.5 per cent in 2015, and reaching 55 per cent for electricity consumption alone, again by 2030."
National production from the approximately 8 gigawatts of coal capacity accounts for 15 per cent of the total — a percentage that is declining due to some recent closures and set to fall further in the coming years. Not a significant share, but not a negligible contribution either. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EPzfOMsuSXE According to the minister, the international announcement serves to give a clear answer to all those who were wondering what energy strategy Italy wanted for its future post Paris Agreement. "With our announcement we are giving a clear indication of the industrial strategic plan, which is already attracting numerous investors from abroad. Many companies have stated that they will invest in Italy." The Wwf is satisfied. "We are frankly proud that our country co-promoted this alliance," says Mariagrazia Midulla, climate policy manager at Wwf Italia. "We expect Italy to make sure it has everything in order, immediately launching the policies and measures needed to honour its commitment to phase out coal by 2025. Our country can become a good international example."
For Mauro Albrizio, director of the European office of Legambiente, the decision carries great symbolic weight but changes little in concrete terms in the fight against climate change. «All the countries in the agreement are nations where coal is residual: the heart of their energy strategy is based on nuclear power (such as France and the UK) or they have gas (like Italy). The Sen targets 28% of energy from renewable sources by 2025. That means the share of energy freed up from coal will be taken up by gas: the remaining 72% stays fossil. We are talking about a gas "switching" the likes of which has never been seen. Italy's real signal must be one of major investment in renewables and electric transport.»
The agreement takes Andrea Clavarino of Assocarboni by surprise, as he learns the news over the phone. "How many countries? Twenty-five? Madness. Italy's is a pointless and costly decision." The lobby's reasons are multiple and predictable: "No country can phase out both coal and nuclear simultaneously without bleeding itself dry. This decision will not change emissions and will make us more dependent on natural gas."
The solution for environmental NGOs, however, is a different one: accelerate the transition towards renewable energy as quickly as possible. "Neither coal nor gas," explains Francesca Mingrone, spokesperson in Bonn for Italian climate network, an organisation specialising in monitoring climate agreements. Stopping coal is therefore crucial above all for public health: "Almost one million people die every year around the world from the direct pollution generated by coal mines and coal-fired power stations," Mingrone continues.
Enel also broadly shares the objectives and confirms the need for a gradual and considered phase-out of coal. After all, over the next seven years — that is, by the 2025 deadline set in the Sen — the government will have to work with the Italian electricity company to close the operating plants at Civitavecchia, Brindisi, Fusina and Sulcis. As also confirmed are the early closure by 2021 of the La Spezia plant (practically unused) and the green light for the early decommissioning of Bastardo and the Genova plant.
Read also: How many power stations are still operating in Italy and what are the consequences
For the people of Puglia, the Ilva question remains open. "If we do not say goodbye to coal at Italy's largest steelworks, precisely now that it is to be restructured — seizing the double economic and environmental advantage — the road towards a zero-emissions economy in Puglia will remain unfinished," says the regional president Michele Emiliano, a guest in Bonn at the International Forum. In short, Ilva too must follow the energy transition process, or Galletti's announcement will not translate into action, rendering the national energy strategy meaningless.
The decision will also affect the financial world. A report produced by Unfriend coal ("unfriend coal") presented at Cop 23 highlights how fifteen of the world's leading insurance companies decided over the past year to divest from coal extraction projects to the tune of 20 billion dollars. The flight from coal, it seems, has only just begun.
