Coal phase-out

Bulgaria's Minister of Environment and Water, Julian Popov, has affirmed the country's commitment to phasing out coal-fired power plants, emphasizing that the transition will be market-driven rather than state-mandated. Minister Popov stated that the market forces are currently leading the closure of such plants and predicted that there is no viable future for them beyond 2030.

Bulgaria embarks on a green revolution with the European Commission's endorsement of the country's Territorial Just Transition Plans (TJTPs), marking a monumental stride toward sustainable development. The European Union's Just Transition Fund (JTF) is set to infuse Bulgaria with EUR 1.2 billion, earmarked to empower regions grappling with coal phase-outs and CO2 emission cuts.

The Netherlands said it would lift all restrictions on power stations fired by fossil fuel

The Dutch have joined Germany and Austria in reverting to coal power following an energy crisis provoked by Russia's invasion of Ukraine.    

The Netherlands said it would lift all restrictions on power stations fired by the fossil fuel, which were previously limited to just over a third of output.    

China is promoting coal-fired power as the ruling Communist Party tries to revive a sluggish economy, prompting warnings Beijing is setting back efforts to cut climate-changing carbon emissions from the biggest global source.

Ljubljana – The government has decided that Slovenia will join the Powering Past Coal Alliance as part of the Energy Day at the COP26 conference in Glasgow on Thursday, dedicated to enhancing global energy transition, and will also sign a statement of public support for the clean energy transition.

Turkey could be coal free by 2030 if fossil fuel companies are made financially responsible for their externalities in line with the "polluter pays" principle, and if the government ends coal subsidies, according to a new report from a group of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) on Nov. 2.

Ljubljana – A round table debate on Tuesday heard that, while coal phase-out is inevitable, it should be made sure that power supply is not threatened as Slovenia is making the relevant transition. The participants agreed that the year of closure of the sole operational coal mine in Velenje should be set in consensus of all stakeholders.

The European Commission has proposed that the exhaust fumes of all new passenger cars and minibuses in the EU be 30 percent lower in 2030 compared to 2021, the EC press service said. The share of the EU in global sales of new passenger cars has fallen from 34 per cent before the financial crisis (2008-2009) to 20 per cent to date.