In Summer 2004, the World Energy Council published a Study on "Sustainable
Global Energy Development: the Case of Coal". The Study aims at developing an
internationally consistent reply to the question whether and to what extent coal use could be
economic and sustainable in meeting global energy demand to 2030 and beyond. It covers
markets, trade and demand, mining and combustion technologies, restructuring and
international policies, and perspectives. It considers both, the contribution that coal could
make to economic development as well as the need for coal to adapt to the exigencies of
security of supply, local environmental protection and mitigation of climate change.
The conclusion suggests that coal will continue to be an expanding, cheap
foundation for economic and social development. Backed by its vast and well-distributed
resource base, coal will make a significant contribution to eradicating energy poverty. And:
coal can be and will be increasingly clean, - at a bearable cost in terms of technological
sophistication, and at little cost in terms of international technology transfer and RD&D in
CO, sequestration. For this to happen, even-handed energy and environmental policies are
needed, not ideologies. Moreover, a more pro-active involvement of the coal and power
industries is needed in "globalising" best technical and managerial practices and advocating
coal's credentials.