Letter to all Governments in Asia

We are organizations and movements working for climate justice writing to urge you to commit to ending all coal in Asia before or by 2035 by immediately stopping all new coal projects and implementing a rapid, equitable, and just phase-out of existing coal. 

The Paris Agreement aims to limit global temperature increases to 1.5C relative to pre-industrial levels to preserve a livable planet. The rapid phase-out of coal, the single biggest source of global temperature increase, is crucial. The Paris Agreement requires coal phase-out by 2030 in the OECD countries and the rest of the world before 2040.

A few years ago, the world made major strides in eradicating coal use and production in response to the climate crisis. Changes in the global pipeline of proposed coal power plants showed a 76% collapse in coal construction from 2015 to 2021. Today, global coal use and capacity have rebounded, growing to an all-time high in 2023,  driven by strong demand in Asian countries. Total global capacity in pre-construction has also increased, with countries in Asia collectively accounting for the majority of these projects. We are likewise alarmed that less coal retirement is happening. Coal power plant retirements globally were at the lowest level since 2011.

We deplore the continued support of rich countries for the expansion of coal in Asia. The world’s top commercial banks mainly responsible for the global flow of funds for new coal in Asia and other regions are headquartered in countries like the US, Canada and the UK – countries that boast of no new coal within their borders. At the same time, we are alarmed that major Asian banks are playing a significant role in coal expansion in the region. These banks, which have weak or non-existent coal exclusion policies, leave the door open for coal investments and serve as regional and domestic financiers for coal expansion.

Asian governments can and should take decisive steps to end the expansion of coal in our countries.  We need more than moratorium policies which by nature are temporary. Asian governments should immediately and permanently ban new coal plants, including captive coal plants and the expansion of existing coal plants. Governments should immediately stop direct and indirect public and private financing of new coal, including through intermediaries and investment corporations.

New electricity demand can be met with renewable energy plants, which are less costly, quicker to build, easier to make accessible to all communities and reduce reliance on imported fuels.

Further, we demand the rapid and just phase-out of existing coal to be completed by 2035 with developed countries who have invested heavily in coal in Asia like Japan to have an earlier phase-out date by 2030. The phase-out program should include:

The immediate retirement of very old coal plants.  These old plants are more highly polluting. Not only have the investments in these plants been recovered, but the plants have already generated a lot of profits

The permanent shutdown of mothballed plants. These plants are not contributing to current demand anyway.

Early closure commitments for all existing coal plants. Currently, some 75% (1,626 GW) of global operating capacity is not covered by a coal closure commitment and the majority are in Asia.

Coal is obsolete. It is not true that we have little choice but to continue generating power with coal to meet increasing demand. Renewables, specifically wind and solar, have become the cheapest sources of electricity everywhere. Coal developers risk billions worth of stranded assets as renewables outcompete coal worldwide. In 2023, according to the report of the International Energy Agency (IEA), an estimated 96% of newly installed, utility-scale solar PV and onshore wind capacity had lower generation costs than new coal and gas plants, while three-quarters of new wind and solar PV plants offered cheaper power than existing fossil fuel facilities. 

The rapid transition to renewables is not only crucial for stopping climate change, it will also make energy more affordable, accessible and fairer.  IEA projections show that rapid clean energy transitions will lower consumer bills by 2035 in advanced economies and by 2050 in emerging and developing economies. In Asia, where millions remain without access to electricity and billions use fossil fuels for heating and cooking, the transition to renewable energy is essential to energy access and security. Phasing out fossil fuel subsidies and shifting finance to the clean energy transition will make clean, renewable technologies more accessible in emerging and developing economies.

Signed:

ASIAN REGIONAL NETWORKS 

Asian Peoples’ Movement on Debt and Development (APMDD) 

Focus on the Global South

Greenpeace Southeast Asia

South Asia Alliance for Poverty Eradication (SAAPE)

350.org Asia


BANGLADESH

Amra Klaparabashi (Patuakhali Power Plant)

Bangladesh Adivasi Samity

Bangladesh Bacolight Shramik Federation

Bangladesh Bhasaman Nari Shramik

Bangladesh Bhasaman Shramik Union

Bangladesh Bhumiheen Samity

Bangladesh Chattra Sabha

Bangladesh Jatyo Shramik Federation

Bangladesh Krishok Federation

Bangladesh Rural Intellectuals’ Front

Bangladesh Sangjukto Shramik Federation

Bangladesh Shramik Federation

Centre for Energy Research, United International University

Center for Participatory Research and Development-CPRD

Charbangla Bittoheen Samobay Samity

COAST Foundation

Dhoritri Rokhhay Amra (DHORA)

Emarat Nirman Shramik Bangladesh

EquityBD

Ganochhaya Sanskritic Kendra

In Taltoli (Barishal Power Plant)

Jago Bangladesh. Garment Workers’ Federation

Kohelia Matshojibi Samity

Motherland Garment Workers’ Federation

Nalbunia Matsajibi

Pasur River Waterkeepers

Ready Made Garment Workers’ Federation

Save Nature Save Life

SDG Action Alliance- NRDS

Sundarban Rakkhay Amra

Tetulbaria Matsajibi Samity

Upokulio Mukto Rovar Scouts Group

Waterkeepers Bangladesh

Youth4NDCs

350.org Bangladesh


INDIA

Aadarsh Nagar Hawker Union

Adivasi Ekta Parishad

Akhil Bhartiya Adivasi Mahasabha

All Arunachal Street Vendors Association

All India Women Hakwers Federation

Anchalic Suraksha Committee

Bagaicha Social Centre

Bhagirathi Palace Hawker Union

Bunglow Road Jawahar Nagar Hawker Union

Centre for Financial Accountability

Chandni Chowk Hawker Union

Dr. Ambedkar Lok Uthan Kendra

Dwarkesh Market vendors Union Rajasmand

Ekata Hawkers union, Maharashtra

Footpath dukandar redipatri union, Ranchi

Fruit and Vegetable Sellers Union, Jaipur

Goa Foundation

GTB Nagar Hawker Union

Hawkers Sangram Samiti

Heritage city thadi thela Union Jaipur

Himalaya Niti Abhiyan

India Gate Hawker Union

Indian Social Action Forum

Jaipur Pink City Street Vendors Association, Jaipu

Jan Chetnna Manch

Kamgar Ekata Union, Maharashtra

Kolkata Men Hawkers Union

Lal Quila Hawker Union

Lohiya Vichar munch Hawkers Union, Mumbai

Maharashtra Kantri Hawkers Mahasangh, Pune

Majnu Ka Tila Hawker Union

Mineral Inheritors Rights Association

Mines Minerals and People

Mirzapur Street Vendors Union

Nadi Ghati Morcha

National Hawker Federation

Nikhila Utral Khudra Bebasai & Vendingzone Mahasangha

People For Himalayan Development

Prasar

Reach Law

Redi pateri Hakwers Union, Alahabad

Rehdi Patri Ekta Manch

Revanchal Dalit Adivasi Sewa Samiti

Road side vendors association, Imphal

Sahid bhagatsingh Hakwers Union, Aurangabad

Samata

SETU: Centre for Social Knowledge and Action

Shahpura Vegetable Vendors Union, Mukherjee Chauk, Udaipur

Street Vendors Union, Durgapur

Swadesh Gramotthan Samiti

Thela Vyavsayi Ekta Union

Venella Rural Development

Citizens Welfare Association Chairperson, CSNEHA Foundation

Fight for Inequality Alliance – India

Forum for Gramsabha

Meena Bazar Hawker Association

Narayan Singh Uikey Adivasi Vikash Samiti

People for Himalayan Development

Rainbow Warrior

Ulgulan Manch

Paryavaran Sanrakshan Samiti


INDONESIA

Aksi! For Gender, Social And Ecological Justice

Auriga Nusantara

FOSNU Probolinggo

Gema Alam NTB

KRuHA (People’s Coalition for the Right to Water)

Pilar Perjuangan Nelayan

Publish What You Pay (PWYP) Indonesia

Riung Hijau

Sabda Alam Banten

Serikat Nelayan Indonesia

Serikat Perempuan Sunggal (SPS)

Solidaritas Perempuan

Suluh Muda Inisiatif

Trend Asia

WALHI

Yayasan Mitra Insani

350.org Indonesia


JAPAN

Friends of the Earth Japan

Japan Center for a Sustainable Environment and Society (JACSES)

Kiko Network

Mekong Watch

350.org Japan


MALAYSIA

Climate Action Network Southeast Asia (CANSEA)

Monitoring Sustainability of Globalisation


MYANMAR

Karen Environmental and Social Action Network (KESAN)


NEPAL

All Nepal Peasants’ Federation (ANPFa)

Digo Bikas Institute

Human Rights Alliance

Jagaran Nepal

Rural Reconstruction Nepal (RRN)

The General Federation of Nepalese Trade Unions (GEFONT)

Trade Union Policy Institute (TUPI)


PAKISTAN

Akhuwat Kissan

Alternative Law Collective

Alliance for Climate Justice and Clean Energy (ACJCE)

Anjuman e Muzareen e Punjab

ASR Resource Center

Beaconhouse National Uni

Cholistan Development Council

Clean and Green Khai

Climate Activists Collective

Community Developers Association (CDA)

Community Initiatives for Development Pakistan (CIDP)

Crofter Foundation

Feminist Collective Pakistan

Gilgit-Baltistan Social Welfare Organization

Haqooq e Khalq Movement

Home Net Pakistan

Indus Consortium

Kissan Ikkat

Kissan Karkeela

Kissan Ravi Club

Labour Education Foundation

Labour Qomi Movement

Lok Sujag

PakAid

Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum

Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research (PILER)

Pakistan Kissan Rabita Committee (PKRC)

Policy Research Institute for Equitable Development (PRIED)

Progressive Student’s Collective

Sanga

Sawera Foundation

Sindh Hari Porchat Council

South Asia Partnership Pakistan

Sukaar Welfare Organization

Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI

Tameer e Nau Women’s Worker Organization

Textile Powerloom Garments Workers Federation

Vision Building Future

Visionary Forum

Young Reformers


PHILIPPINES

Angat-GenC – Generation Climate

Aniban ng Mangagawa sa Agrikultura (AMA)

Atimonan Power for People

Bantay Kita – PWYP Philippines

Break-free Pilipinas, Break-free from Fossil Gas

Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP-Workers Solidarity)

Camarines Norte Movement for Climate Justice

Concerned Citizens of Sta. Cruz, Zambales

Constantino Foundation

Gitib, Inc.

Kilusan para sa Kabuhayan, Kalusugan, Kalikasan at Katiyakan sa Paninirahan sa Quezon City (K4K)

Koalisyon Isalbar ti Pintas ti La Union (Coalition to Save the Beauty of La Union)

Kongreso ng Pagkakaisa ng Maralita ng Lungsod (KPML)

Limpyong Hanging para sa Kaugmanon sa Tanan (Clean Air for ALL)

Living Laudato Si’ Philippines

Oriang Women’s Movement Inc.

Partido Lakas ng Masa (PLM)

Philippine Movement For Climate Justice (PMCJ)

PMCJ- Cebu

PMCJ- Davao

Piglas- Batangas

People of Asia for Climate Solutions

Sanlakas

Task Force Detainees of the Philippines

350 Pilipinas


SRI LANKA

Centre for Environmental Justice


TAIWAN

350 Taiwan


THAILAND

Climate Watch Thailand

Greenpeace Thailand


TIMOR-LESTE

Core Group Transparency/PWYP Timor-Leste (CGT/PWYP-TL)

La’o Hamutuk – Timor-Leste Institute for Development Monitoring and Analysis


ENDORSED BY INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AND NETWORKS 

Big Shift Global

Fundación Chile Sustentable, Chile

Urgewald, Germany

Equidad de Género: Ciudadanía, Trabajo y Familia

Publish What You Pay

Oil Change International

LDC Watch

Campaign of campaigns