New report shows world coal production grew by 4% in 2023

In 2023, world coal production grew by around 4% to a new record high of over 8 billion tonnes. Estimates differ on the precise number, but it is clear that predictions of “peak coal” have been repeatedly wrong. China alone now has more new coal-fired power plants under construction (140 GW) than the total capacity of all coal- and lignite-fired power plants operating today across the whole of the EU.