it, it is cost effective, and it does not have to have an on economic growth or our competitiveness. in many parts of the world, because renewables are now cheap, this transition will also be affordable there too. ., , ., transition will also be affordable there too. . , ., w, ., , there too. that is an extraordinary statistic that there too. that is an extraordinary statistic that the there too. that is an extraordinary statistic that the amount - there too. that is an extraordinary statistic that the amount of - statistic that the amount of electricity we get from coal has decreased so dramatically from 2016 to now. 0bviously, decreased so dramatically from 2016 to now. obviously, there is a long road that leads up to that point. how expensive a set and what are the logistical difficulties and can it be easily translated to other countries? be easily translated to other countries? ~ . . , , , countries? we are always surprised b the countries? we are always surprised by the spee
by almost the same amount that it decreased in 2020. experts say the report underlines the urgency of action needed at summits like cop26. meanwhile at that global climate conference in glasgow, a further 18 countries have agreed to a plan to stop using coal power plants. it brings the total number of countries backing the plan to a0. but some of the world s largest coal users, including china and the us, have not signed up. coal is the single biggest contributor to climate change. well, i spoke to riccardo puliti, vice president for infrastructure at the world bank, and asked him about this new commitment on coal. it is very relevant as you rightly said, coal is the biggest emitter of c02 so it s a major contribution to climate change and it is really necessary that as many countries as possible have a transition away from coal. it is necessary to retire to
communities, and what we saw in the uk and this will be the same in other countries that there is a lack of a plan, the social and economic ramifications will be far reaching. there will be long felt. and as we saw with the coal mine closures in the uk, these still affect the labour market now and we still have high levels of unemployment in those regions. we need to plan and one of the great things that came out yesterday, i think, the great things that came out yesterday, ithink, was the great things that came out yesterday, i think, was that the uk with the eu and the us put forward a plan with south africa with billions of pounds committed to helping to phase out coal managed way. this will be a good model for other countries as the transition. thank ou ve countries as the transition. thank you very much- 0ur chief political correspondent adam fleming gave us the latest earlier.
remember that they are built on clean electricity faster than any other country and they are stepping up other country and they are stepping up their efforts and energy efficiency to slow down electricity which should have a knock on effect in reducing coal. but i suspect today s and a single put increasing pressure on the states and china to form an alliance to reduce coal. listening to you it sounds like a straightforward transition but there are places where the produce coal, the communities that depend on that particular infrastructure, how difficult is disrupt that? the uk had a really difficult is disrupt that? the uk had a really great difficult is disrupt that? the uk i had a really great transformation and the last five years, but what we didn t do very well was the initial transition i read thejob didn t do very well was the initial transition i read the job losses. job losses caused by the closure of coal fired job losses caused by the closure of coalfired power job loss
mechanism to support the development of cleaner alternatives that countries can switch to from coal. this transition needn t be as drawn out as it should be. we need to accelerate the transition in many parts of the world. the message coming out today is that it s incredibly encouraging announcement, particularly countries that were previously resistant to change, the ukraine and poland, this is a really encouraging day. ukraine and poland, this is a really encouraging day- ukraine and poland, this is a really encouraging day. what about the fact that the us encouraging day. what about the fact that the us and encouraging day. what about the fact that the us and china encouraging day. what about the fact that the us and china amongst - encouraging day. what about the fact| that the us and china amongst others have not signed up to the pledge? i don t think that should take away from the fact that there are many countries who have committed. in terms of the state, joe biden has put