`titrebCoal: from anathemas to realities`/titrebThe ongoing world growth of coal consumption at an average yearly rate of 2% is incompatible with the will to limit the increase in temperature to under 2˚C during the 21st century. To translate this consensus into policies promoting a decrease in solid fossil fuels in the worldwide energy balance requires an understanding of the reasons why fossil fuel remains attractive. In many economies, mainly emerging economies in Asia and southern Africa, the tremendous growth in electricity consumption and the strong competitiveness of coal power versus other power sources (gas power, nuclear power, hydroelectricity, wind or solar power) account for the wide use of fossil fuel. As long as these other sources do not offer the same advantages as coal power in terms of production costs, supply security and technological expertise, the future of coal will remain bright for a long time. Instead of condemning this state of affairs, it would be preferable to further the development of High-Efficiency Low-Emissions (HELE) and Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) technologies.