Greenpeace wants more reductions in coal

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WASHINGTON, Dec. 3 (UPI) -- Advocacy group Greenpeace said that despite restrictions regarding coal power, global efforts to address climate issues fall flat without domestic support.

Representatives from about 200 countries are attending the 18th session for the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change in Qatar.

Greenpeace, in a statement, said coal power was likely responsible for more than 40 percent of global greenhouse emissions. It lauded efforts by the United States and China, the No. 1 and No. 2 economies respectively, for taking steps to move away from coal.

The group said the U.S. share of coal in the total electricity generation capacity fell from 49 percent in 2007 to 37 percent in 2012 because of renewable energy efforts and the increased use of natural gas. Greenpeace said efforts under way to expand infrastructure to get coal to western ports, however, suggested that trend may reverse.

China is moving forward with a five-year development plan to limit coal production and use by 10 percent of their 2011 levels by 2015. Beijing negotiators last week told Bloomberg News, however, that short-term economic plans may interfere with any immediate green agendas.

In November, the World Bank warned that weather-related disasters could become more commonplace even if world governments meet existing climate goals.