More than 40 countries have committed to stop using coal at the COP26 climate summit.

The countries include Poland, Vietnam and Chile but do not include Australia, India, China and the US although China, Japan and Korea, the 3 largest public financiers of coal, have committed to ending overseas finance for coal generation by the end of 2021. Signatories have committed to ending all investment in new coal power generation and to end coal power production in the 2030s for major economies and the 2040s for poorer nations.

“The end of coal is in sight,” UK business and energy secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said.

Michael Bloomberg, UN Special Envoy for Climate Ambition and Solutions and founder of Bloomberg L.P. and Bloomberg Philanthropies, said:

“Success in the fight against climate change depends on ending coal-fired power – the largest driver of carbon emissions and the target of a major new initiative that Bloomberg Philanthropies expanded this week at COP26. Together with our international partners, we welcome the work of more allies dedicated to moving beyond coal and accelerating the clean energy transition we urgently need”.