Coal demand reaches new annual record as US output rises
IEA forecasts a decline in years to 2030 despite ‘many uncertainties’
IEA forecasts a decline in years to 2030 despite ‘many uncertainties’

A protracted conflict in the Middle East would dent expectations that global coal consumption will start to fall

Demand drops 3.4% in March due to soaring prices, supply shortages and collapse of Middle East air travel

Repeated cost shocks make a transition to cleaner energy critical

Natural gas consumption has fallen and resilience has improved across Europe and in the UK

Energy crisis sparked by war in Iran has raised prospect of restarting mothballed coal power plants

Countries shrug off environmental concerns to fire up use of polluting fuel as Gulf supplies dwindle