This is part of an article to be in 'The Weekend Australian' (to...

This is part of an article to be in 'The Weekend Australian' (to which I subscribe in print and digital) on 16 and 17 December 2023:

"Global demand for coal rose to a record in 2023, led by strong growth from China and India, underlining the challenge ahead after world leaders agreed this week to move away from fossil fuels to combat climate change.

The International Energy Agency said world demand for coal rose by 1.4 per cent in 2023, surpassing 8.5 billion tonnes for the first time.

It pointed to “very strong” demand for the commodity in emerging and developing economies, increasing by 8 per cent in India and 5 per cent in China in 2023 due to rising demand for electricity and weak hydropower output.

“The growth in China and India as well as in Indonesia, Vietnam and The Philippines – which together represent more than 70 per cent of global coal demand – will more than offset” falls from developed economies shedding the energy source, according to the report.

Still, the IEA forecasts a 2.3 per cent decline in overall global demand in the period through to 2026 as nations boost their renewable volumes and green energy takes hold as the dominant source of power over the next decade.

“We forecast that China’s coal consumption will fall in 2024 and plateau through 2026, with hydropower output set to recover while electricity generation from solar and wind increases significantly,” the report states..."
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It won't surprise if the prediction in the last paragraph turns out to be incorrect. Hope so!