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November 12, 2026 - As COP31 takes place in Türkiye from November 9 through November 20, 2026, FutureCoal urges climate negotiators to recognize the importance of energy security, affordability, and industrial development alongside emissions-reduction ambitions. In the lead-up to COP31, FutureCoal has challenged climate negotiators to move beyond political declarations and address the practical realities shaping global energy systems, arguing that energy security, affordability, and industrial development must remain central to climate discussions. This year’s COP summit comes amid renewed attention to reliable energy supplies and the technologies needed to balance economic development with environmental performance. However, FutureCoal CEO Michelle Manook believes international climate negotiations risk repeating the shortcomings of previous summits.  Reflecting on the progress made since COP26 in Glasgow, Manook warns that discussions have too often prioritized political language over meaningful outcomes.
“Five years ago, following COP26 in Glasgow, I warned that climate negotiations were becoming an exercise in wordsmithing rather than delivering meaningful outcomes. Every summit since has reinforced that concern.”
For FutureCoal, addressing this imbalance means recognizing coal’s continuing role in electricity generation and industrial development, while placing greater emphasis on improving how the resource is extracted, processed, and used.
Rethinking the Role of Coal in Energy Security
Manook argues that energy security should never have been separated from the wider climate conversation, especially given the importance of affordable, dependable energy to industrial economies and developing nations.
“Energy security should never have been taken off the table. Coal remains fundamental to electricity generation and industrial development across much of the world. The question should not be how quickly we eliminate it, but how we improve the way it is mined, processed and used.”
In line with this position, FutureCoal is calling for broader access to finance and regulatory approvals for technologies that can deliver measurable emissions reductions. These include carbon capture and storage, higher-efficiency generation, and methane abatement.
The organization also supports developing renewables alongside coal as part of diversified energy systems, arguing that investment decisions should be guided by environmental performance rather than fuel type alone.
Advancing Higher-Value Coal Applications
Beyond electricity generation, FutureCoal highlights coal technologies’ potential to support industrial production and reduce exposure to volatile international markets.
China, for example, is converting domestic coal into chemicals, fertilizers, and synthetic fuels, while India is advancing coal gasification to strengthen domestic industrial production. South Africa, meanwhile, has used coal-derived fuels and chemicals for decades.
These developments reflect FutureCoal’s Sustainable Coal Stewardship (SCS) strategy, which promotes greater efficiency, emissions management, and higher-value applications across the coal value chain.
Through this approach, the organization advocates for a broader consideration of coal technologies, focusing on opportunities to improve industrial processes and manage emissions rather than viewing the resource exclusively through the lens of electricity generation.
Bringing Industry Into the Climate Conversation
As COP31 continues, FutureCoal believes greater collaboration between policymakers, industry, engineers, and technology developers will be essential to translating climate ambitions into practical outcomes.
The summit’s guiding principles of “Dialogue, Consensus, and Action” provide an opportunity to encourage more inclusive discussions, particularly around the needs of developing economies where access to reliable and affordable energy remains essential.
Manook also reiterates FutureCoal’s longstanding position that countries should retain the flexibility to pursue energy solutions suited to their individual circumstances.
“Since the Paris Agreement in 2015, FutureCoal has consistently advocated for the recognition of all fuels and all technologies. Countries must have the freedom to pursue solutions suited to their national circumstances.
“If COP31 is serious about turning dialogue into action, it must bring industry into the conversation and recognize the technologies already being developed and deployed. A more inclusive approach offers a stronger foundation for meaningful climate action.”
Ultimately, FutureCoal is calling for a more pragmatic and collaborative approach to international climate negotiations, one that recognizes the complexities of global energy systems while placing greater emphasis on technological development, industrial requirements, and measurable environmental progress.
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