Global coal demand surpassed pre-Covid levels in late 2020, underlining the world’s emissions challenge

Global coal consumption fell 4% in 2020, its steepest drop since World War II, but the decline was concentrated mostly in the early months of the year. By the end of 2020, demand had surged above pre-Covid levels, driven by Asia where economies were fast rebounding and December was particularly cold. Coal use in the fourth quarter was 3.5% higher than in the same period in 2019, contributing to a resurgence in global CO2 emissions.