After more than 38 years, the World Coal Association (WCA) will cease use of its moniker, rebranding itself as FutureCoal – The Global Alliance for Sustainable Coal.
The unveiling of the new name and logo was held in Delhi by group chief executive Michelle Manook, who said the new era is in response to a call from coal and coal allied sectors to modernize and unite under a common purpose.
Moreover, FutureCoal will now open its doors to representation of major and strategic players from the entire 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.
“For too long, our global coal value chain has allowed anti-coal sentiment to dominate and fragment us, which has resulted in a lowering of the global coal IQ,” Manook said.
“This has diminished the capacity and progress of many vulnerable developing and emerging nations, but also now we see those of some developed nations.”
She added that, while the name FutureCoal may seem bold to some, it is a mere representation of “the reality we are confronted with” in the industry.
“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 exists and will be needed in any energy transition. This critical resource is a legitimate participant in both economic development and emissions abatement,” she said.
The FutureCoal Global Alliance will embed its transformation through Sustainable Coal Stewardship (SCS), a platform that will permit coal-based economies like India and China, and like-minded nations and corporations, to collaborate to advance a progressive, technology- and solutions-led international coal value chain.
Manook pointed out that the total contribution made by the coal value chain includes power, steel, cement, aluminium, chemicals and renewables infrastructure. Its value is in the order of hundreds of billions and is an interconnected global supply chain.
“This cannot be ignored but equally it can only be secured by our value chain acknowledging that change must occur. If we are to be responsible, then we need to be inclusive, and unite under our common purpose,” she said.
Coal producing and consuming nations, governments, industry and investors have already signaled their intent to join the ranks of FutureCoal.
FutureCoal Chairman July Ndlovu added: “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.”
Source: futurecoal.org