Recent global energy policies and discussions have primarily focused on the urgent need to decarbonize the energy system in order to achieve net-zero emissions. Despite efforts to reduce carbon emissions, fossil fuels, including coal, continue to dominate global primary energy use, accounting for more than 80% of the total.

Coal, in particular, stands out as both the largest source of electricity generation and the primary fuel for key industries such as iron, steel, and cement production, making it a central topic in climate and energy discussions. The affordability and abundance of coal make it a favoured energy source, especially in emerging economies where energy demand is rapidly expanding.

Among the countries featured in the Statistical Review of World Energy, South Africa stands out as the most coal-dependent nation, with coal accounting for 69% of its primary energy consumption in 2022. China and India, the two largest consumers of coal globally, surpassed a combined consumption of 8 billion tonnes in 2022. China's power sector alone accounts for one-third of global coal consumption, while India has doubled its coal consumption since 2007 and is expected to continue leading in coal consumption growth.

On the other hand, developed countries have witnessed a decline in coal consumption. The United States, for instance, has seen a nearly 50% drop in coal consumption compared to the early 2010s. Initiatives like the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which allocates approximately $370 billion to expedite the country's energy transition, are expected to further reduce coal consumption in the United States. A similar trend is observed in the European Union, where countries like France have decreased their reliance on coal to just 2.5% of primary energy consumption, half of what it was in the early 2000s. In Germany, the largest economy in Europe, coal still accounts for 18.9% of total energy consumption, albeit slightly higher than in 2021 due to the energy crisis. However, this is a significant reduction from the 24.9% recorded in 2012.

While coal consumption is declining in developed nations, it remains steady in emerging economies. The International Energy Agency predicts that global coal demand will plateau at 2022 levels until 2025, after which it will begin to decline.