Environment Energy Mining Watch SEE|News|Croatia is the twenty first European country to commit to ending the use of coal power since the Paris Agreement was signed

Croatia is the twenty first European country to commit to ending the use of coal power since the Paris Agreement was signed

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Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković used his opening address at the COP26 climate meeting in Glasgow today to announce that his country will phase out its only coal plant, the 335MW Plomin, making Croatia coal free by 2033 at the latest. Croatia is the twenty first European country to commit to ending the use of coal power since the Paris Agreement was signed.

“Croatia’s announcement of a 2033 or sooner coal phase out is a welcome addition to the start of COP26,” said Kathrin Gutmann, Europe Beyond Coal campaign director. “Coal closures are accelerating across Europe at a tremendous pace, and we fully expect Croatia to say goodbye to coal by 2030 at the latest, like all other responsible European countries. Focusing on the transition to a fossil-free, fully renewable energy based power sector by 2035 is the smartest way forward for Europe, and sunny Croatia can set a great example of how to replace coal with renewable energy.”

“If we want to stay below 1.5 degrees, all European countries including Croatia must quit coal by 2030 at the latest. Croatia’s neighbours Italy, and Hungary have already done this and Croatia should be aiming to join them,” said Zoran Tomić, Director at Greenpeace CEE, Croatia and Slovenia. “Critically, the coal phase out must not mean a pivot to false solutions such as fossil gas or nuclear energy. Croatia has enormous renewable energy potential, especially solar. Together with increasing energy efficiency, this is the way forward.”

“Croatia’s Plomin Power plant is responsible for almost 40 percent of CO2 emissions from the country’s largest electricity utility. To avoid surging energy prices, it is essential that it is replaced with renewable energy within the next five years,” said Bernard Ivčić from Zelena akcija – Friends of the Earth Croatia. “The government needs to put every incentive in place to make sure the phase out happens earlier.”

A total of 16 European countries are now coal free, or have official coal phase out dates of 2030 at the very latest. A further five including Croatia have coal phase out dates after 2030.

Source: beyond-coal.eu

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