ABSTRACT
Transitions away from coal have been taking place across the globe over the past century due to technical (exhaustion of coal mines), environmental (air pollution by thermal coal plants), and economic (shift from coal to natural gas) reasons. The unplanned nature of these transitions (UK and some regions in Central Europe) has left workers and communities at these sites bereft of jobs and social security benefits and caused destruction of the local economy. Climate-related transitions from coal to clean are now taking centre stage across the world as countries race to meet their net-zero commitments. Lessons from previous transitions have proved that it is necessary to plan coal-to-clean transitions to ensure energy and climate justice objectives.
This chapter will analyse challenges, processes, and pathways that have led to dialogue and legislations on coal phase-outs and Just Transitions in South Africa, Germany, Poland, and the USA. This is aimed at providing a context for the Indian conversation on coal-to-clean transitions and the resultant challenges and opportunities that the country can leverage as it moves towards a more sustainable energy mix.
