6d ago

Ireland becomes sixth European country to end use of coal ahead of schedule | NationofChange

14 comments

It didn't say in the article who the previous five were, so I looked it up:
Belgium (2016)
Austria (2020)
Sweden (2020)
Portugal (2021)
United Kingdom (2024)
Ireland (2025)
That's using the source quoted in the article.
Another source has a longer list:
Belarus (2015)
Belgium (2016)
Austria (2020)
Sweden (2020)
Portugal (2021)
UK (2024)
Slovakia (2024)
(Ireland would be here if/when updated for 2025)
- would be interesting to see the respective major power sources
  
  https://app.electricitymaps.com/map/72h/hourly
Guessing this is only for industry, but hopefully the knock on effect will be less use domestically. Having been in small town Ireland, the amount of pollution generated by home coal fires is crazy. It feels like stepping back to industrial revolution times, at 6pm when everyone lights up their fires is choke inducing.
- I would imagine it is turf, the coal is "Smokeless" for the most part. But your point stands.
  
  Turf, is that like peat?
Wow, and while they have 6 whole years of coal reserves left in their country. Very forward-thinking to switch to oil.
In contrast, the US has about 400 years of coal reserves.
(Yes, I know Ireland had been importing coal)
- Nobody mentioned the US though
  
  It was a comparison of a country that isn't giving up on coal (at least under the current administration) and one which is. The one which is has virtually no reserves so little to lose.
  What's next, countries at peace ban landmines until there is a risk of invasion?

14 comments