FutureCoal to modernise coal business

The change responded to a call from coal and coal-allied sectors to modernise and unite under a common purpose.

After 38 years, the World Coal Association (WCA) will cease and usher in a new era under the transformative branding: FutureCoal – The Global Alliance for Sustainable Coal. Unveiling the new brand logo and identity at a dedicated press conference in Delhi, FutureCoal Chief Executive Michelle Manook said the change responded to a call from coal and coal-allied sectors to modernise and unite under a common purpose.

The FutureCoal organisation will now open its doors, representing major and strategic players across the coal value chain. The organisation advocates for an inclusive all fuels and all technologies international policy framework to support the sovereign rights of all coal-producing and consuming nations and those nations and stakeholders which genuinely seek to support them.

Manook said, “For too long, our global coal value chain has allowed anti-coal sentiment to dominate and fragment us, which has lowered the global coal IQ. This has diminished the capacity and progress of many vulnerable developing and emerging nations, but now we see those of some developed nations.”

“FutureCoal may seem bold to some, but for many, it is simply representative of the reality we are confronted with. The total contribution of coal to our modern society and the growing global population should neither be dismissed nor disregarded. Coal and, more specifically, a wider definition of abated coal solutions exist and will be needed in any energy transition. This critical resource is a legitimate participant in economic development and emissions reduction,” she said.

The FutureCoal Global Alliance will embed this transformation through Sustainable Coal Stewardship (SCS). The SCS platform allows coal-based economies like India and China, like-minded nations and corporations to form collaborations to advance a progressive, technology- and solutions-led international coal value chain industry. Manook added that the total contribution made by the coal value chain in sectors including power, steel, cement, aluminium, chemicals, and renewables infrastructure is in the order of hundreds of billions and is an interconnected global supply chain. This cannot be ignored, but it can only be secured by our value chain acknowledging that change must occur. To be responsible, we need to be inclusive and unite under our common purpose.

She added, “We must emerge and demonstrate a modernised, innovative and technology-led UNITED coal value chain, focused on continuing to make a substantial future contribution to people’s lives and livelihoods.” Many coal-producing and consuming nations, governments, industries, and investors have signalled their intent to be officially associated with and join the FutureCoal global organisation. FutureCoal Chairman July Ndlovu said, “You have asked, and we have responded. The platform for collaboration, in the best interests of our global community, now exists – in FutureCoal. The leaders of this new legacy understand that this is our responsibility to the future. That this future is before us. And that this future is now.”