I strongly support reducing greenhouse gas emissions, both CO2 (which has very long term effects) and CH4 (which is more powerful greenhouse gas but shorter ter

I strongly support reducing greenhouse gas emissions, both CO2 (which has very long term effects) and CH4 (which is more powerful greenhouse gas but shorter term effects, CH4 as a higher potential energy state compound decomposes in the atmosphere readily but typically to CO2). I think coal has no place for future electricity generation investment. But you can't shut down the plants overnight; a more feasible option would be an accelerated phase out over 5 to 10 years. Natural gas also should be phased out but probably over a 10 to 20 year period. Currently today for large segments in the world solar and/or wind is now cheaper than coal. There are some places where any of solar, wind, geothermal, or hydroelectric are not an option but these are a very small minority. Hopefully molten salt reactors or fusion reactors will fill the void in such places. Having said that just removing coal from the picture won't mean we'll make the necessary targets to keep warming to within tolerable limits. Coal for electricity production is a sizeable chunk of the problem but by no means the whole picture. Even on the issue of coal there is still cement production and steel production to worry about.