EN 
PT_BR 
While G-20 governments have announced ambitious climate commitments to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement, these same countries have continued to provide support for coal, oil, gas and fossil fuel power, including US$ 3.3 trillion between 2015 and 2019.
At today's prices, that sum could finance 4,232 GW of new solar power plants, according to data collected by BloombergNEF in the Climate Policy Factbook.
The G-20 nations collectively cut fossil fuel funding by 10% from 2015 to 2019, with eight member countries making notable progress in reducing their fossil fuel subsidies by 10% or more, namely: Argentina, Germany, Italy , Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey and the United Kingdom.
However, to remain aligned with the goals of the Paris Agreement towards COP26, the G-20 cannot count on the actions of some nations. All G-20 countries must take immediate action to end support for fossil fuel projects and accelerate the phase-out of coal, Bloomberg NEF points out.
To this end, some countries have taken certain measures. Australia, for example, has been retiring thermal plants to boost cheaper solar and wind power, while the German parliament approved a bill mandating the abandonment of power generation from coal by 2038.
Brazil, on the other hand, has acted in the opposite direction. According to data collected by Solar Channel together with ANEEL (National Electric Energy Agency), there is, for the next few years, a forecast of input of more than 4.2 GW of installed power generated from the construction of thermal plants.
Furthermore, an amendment proposed in MP 1055/21, known as the Energy Crisis MP, aims to extend the deadline for subsidies for coal-fired thermoelectric plants.
Last year alone, approximately R$ 670 million in subsidies were allocated to the coal industry in Brazil, an amount that represents around 3% of the CDE (Energy Development Account).
Currently, these subsidies are valid until 2027 and the amendment in question, authored by deputy Ricardo Guidi (PSD/SC), aims to extend this deadline until 2035.
According to the parliamentarian, the objective is to maintain the coal mining industry present in the states of RS, SC and PR and which contributes to the economy of municipalities such as Figueira (PR), Candiota (RS) and 15 municipalities in the south of Santa Catarina.
Costs passed on to consumers
According to the latest survey by the MME (Ministry of Mines and Energy), the increase in the use of thermoelectric plants, caused by the water crisis scenario, will cost R$ 13.1 billion for consumers.
This sum represents a 45% increase compared to the previous estimate, reported in June, which predicted a cost of R$ 9 billion.
USA
During Donald Trump's government, fifty coal-fired thermal plants were closed. The reason, in addition to the environmental issue, is that coal no longer makes economic sense, points out Jonathan Levenshus, from the Sierra Club, an American environmental organization.
Since 2010, 289 plants are in the process of closing, which is equivalent to 40% of the electrical production capacity of coal plants in the country, the organization reported.
Spain
In Spain, the progressive closure of coal mines, seen as unprofitable and highly dependent on subsidies, was one of the conditions imposed by the European Union for the country to join the bloc.
The closure of coal activities triggered protests by miners in a movement that gained strength nationally. In 2019, the government of Pedro Sánchez, from the Spanish Socialist Workers Party, created the Just Transition Institute to include workers' demands in transition policies.
Germany
In Germany, in July 2020, the German parliament approved a bill determining the abandonment of energy generation from coal by 2038.
The measure is part of a package that also includes the transfer of more than 50 billion euros to compensate mining companies, thermoelectric plants, workers and even regions of the country that still depend on coal energy generation.
