Two decades of climate talks have focused on emissions reductions, but have ignored the other end of the supply chain, where fossil fuels are extracted. Put simply, if the world doesn’t tackle the global supply of coal, we will have far less chance of restricting consumption of coal.

The coal industry is preparing to expand supply – an expansion that will undo the benefits of the Paris agreement. 

A moratorium on new coal mines will also make progress on climate change easier to communicate. Emissions targets can seem abstract and difficult to understand for many people. An agreement to end this well-known dirty fuel is far more tangible.