LEADERSHIP

with Asia, as well as Africa, proves key. Sporton notes that the world, while focusing on climate change, should not disregard these emerging economies and the role coal will play in this emergence. “There are those in the industry that think it’s on the way out,” he says. “But then you look at Asia and Africa – they recognise that coal is key to the growth of their economies and so we have to stimulate that conversation and work out a way forward. “These countries need financing 38

from organisations like that of The World Bank to be able to afford the best technologies that reduce carbon emissions. Our challenge is to continue to open those doors, change the perception of coal and show that it can be in fact a key contributor to that low carbon economy.” It hasn’t all been hurdles and obstacles in the path to changing this perception of coal. Sporton can point to some key milestones representing an industry ready to change. A key turning point for him was the lead up to the Paris Agreement. WCA worked with countries that have identified coal as key to their

NOVEMBER 2018