War, Weather & Tragedy: Why Coal Demand Could Surge in 2026

AI Summary

Global coal demand reached record highs in 2024 and 2025, hitting approximately 8.8 billion tonnes, driven by various geopolitical and environmental factors. Despite a slowdown in growth and discussions about peak coal, advanced economies continue efforts to decarbonize.

Global coal demand has been rising over the last couple of years, with new record highs reached in both 2024 and 2025 at around 8.8 billion tonnes, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). However, growth has slowed and speculation regarding “peak coal” has emerged as the world continues to decarbonize. Advanced economies are phasing ...