Energy Secretary Chris Wright sold coal as the solution to a widespread lack of energy access in Africa on Friday, dismissing the challenge posed by climate change and calling too much emphasis on addressing it “destructive.”
Speaking to a roomful of African officials and business people at a Powering Africa summit in downtown Washington, Wright said Western countries such as the United States have for years been “shamelessly” telling Africa that coal is bad and not to develop it.
“That’s just nonsense, 100 percent nonsense,” he said. “Coal transformed our world and made it better, extended life expectancy and grew opportunities, and coal globally will be the largest source of electricity for decades to come. That’s not a policy, that’s not a desire, that’s just a reality.”
Coal is a major contributor to the greenhouse gases warming Earth and reducing its use is key to keeping global temperatures to a relatively safe level. Its burning also has major implications for air pollution and human health.
