Return of Coal: A Short Visit or a Long Stay?

Despite the existence of global targets to slow pace climate change, coal remains one most commonly used fuels that accounts for over 25% energy supply and consumption. Multiple factors explain why is still widely used: its relatively low prices, availability in developing countries, transportation costs path dependence, i.e. existing infrastructure. Coal consumption (non-OECD) countries has been rising thanks processes India China but 2021, however, it increased OECD as well. The uneven often atypical post-COVID-19 recovery driven by manufacturing created disruptions markets with high volatile prices coal’s main substitute - natural gas. first history hence unexpected slowdown RES 2021 added reversal trends exactly at time COP26 Glasgow. goal our study examine new complex environment determined both economic political factors: commodity inflation, decelerating growth, sanctions against exporters. In this paper we analyze major before 2020, current processes, their implications future context choice between development transition including issue stranded assets possible reopening.