Germany is the first major nation to renounce coal burning as an energy source. The Bundestag approved a plan on July 2nd to phase out coal by 2038. The country has already decided to phase out nuclear generating plants by 2022, putting it far ahead of its European sister states, Britain and France, in commitment to clean, renewable energy generation. The government plans to spend $45 billion helping localities make the strategic conversion. Greenpeace, the international environmental organization, is critical of the legislation saying it will not reduce carbon dioxide emissions fast enough to meet the Paris Climate accord targets. However, Germany has taken a giant step forward in reducing global warming emissions by at least planning a phase-out before the middle of the century, which no other country has done. Germany burns the most lignite coal of any country according to director Martin Kaiser.
Germany closed its last anthracite coal mine in 2018, but continues to import anthracite and burn its own lignite, a brownish coal abundant in Germany, but which produces less energy when burned. The government said regular environmental reviews may allow the end date to be moved forward. The environment minister noted that eight of the most polluting coal plants will be closed by 2022. The nation's miners union supports the historic switch to renewables which now account for 55.7% of Germany's net public power supply. Green Kudos to Germany!