The World Coal Association together with the Polish Ministry of Economy is hosting the International Coal & Climate Summit. The Summit brings together policy-makers, business leaders, NGOs, researchers and other thought-leaders who are influential in the energy, environment and technology sectors to discuss how coal can continue to play a central role in global development while meeting the challenges posed by climate change.

The hosting of the ICCS coincides with the 19th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP19) and demonstrates the commitment of the WCA to engaging with a wide range of stakeholders in an open, inclusive dialogue. WCA aims to take action on climate change and other environmental challenges while simultaneously delivering on economic development goals, affordable energy and economic growth. The ICCS will be opened by Janusz Piechociński, Poland’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy, and will include a keynote speech by Christiana Figueres, Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC. The Summit is a continuation of efforts by the WCA to engage with the international environmental community and to support the UNFCCC process.

Milton Catelin, Chief Executive of the WCA, commented: “The coal sector recognises that as a global industry we have global responsibilities, which include working to ensure a long-term solution to addressing climate change. Given the role of coal globally and the on-going challenge we face in meeting energy demand while reducing emissions, the discussions that will take place during ICCS provide a pathway to taking action against climate change while continuing to meet the expectations for social and economic development. “Technology is at the heart of the climate debate. The use of technology to combat climate change, however, is dependent on the support of the international community, through government policy and  development bank funding. It is therefore important for the international community to support immediate deployment of high-efficiency low-emissions coal combustion technologies wherever it is economic and technically feasible. High-efficiency low-emissions coal combustion technologies are commercially available and, if deployed, can reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the entire power sector by around 20%. This is equivalent to the total annual CO2 emissions of India.

“Through this Summit and through discussions in this city over the next few days and beyond, we want to open a genuine dialogue between the coal industry, governments and NGOs about these issues. We want to focus on what we can do in practical terms to meet the climate challenge.”