So much of the world’s growth over the past two hundred years has been due to the ever-increasing use of fossil fuels led by coal, notes Alan M Clegg in last week’s opinion paper. But in the same week, commodities analyst BMO Global let it be known that it is modelling a slow decline in coal importation by large coal consumers like India, partly as the utility mix slowly shifts towards more renewable-energy sources. Meanwhile, coal supply fears are causing the coal price to rise and funders are refusing to come to the party to finance new coal mines and expansions. The same funders are advertising their keenness to finance new renewables projects, which is giving coal mining a finite horizon.