Powering Past Coal Alliance (PPCA) was launched in 2017 by the United Kingdom and Canada.
Hungary became one of the ten new members of PPCA, thus announcing its commitment to phasing out coal by 2030, showcasing the growing momentum on meeting the 2030 coal phase-out date among the EU member states.
The Minister of Innovation and Technology Attila Steiner said that Hungary joined the PPCA because it understands that phasing out coal globally requires strong international cooperation. The country is ready to share its experiences regarding the implementation of plans to realize a full transition of its biggest coal region to an economically and environmentally sustainable region by 2030.
According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and in line with the PPCA declaration, by 2030, four-fifths of coal electricity generation must be replaced by clean energy globally, and entirely in developed countries. Setting an early date for a just and complete transition from coal to clean energy is the critical first step to reaching the long-term net-zero commitments recently adopted by most countries, including top emitters.
Last week, Hungary said that it will close its coal-fired thermal power plant Matra in 2025, five years ahead of previously agreed schedule.