Coal is the most polluting of all fossil fuels. Proposals for a new generation of coal-fired power stations across the UK are a cause for great concern.

Dinosaur: Our carbon dinosaur visits Longannet power stationNew, unabated coal power in Scotland would be disastrous for our climate change targets.

New coal plants would operate for 40 to 50 years, pose a serious risk of locking us into a pathway of high emissions,and threaten to fatally undermine efforts to meet the Scottish Government’s climate change targets of an 80% reduction in emissions by 2050.

We believe that emissions capturing technology should be up and running on new coal power plants from day one.

Scotland’s carbon dinosaurs

Dinosaur 2: Campaigning outside Longannet power stationScotland’s power stations at Longannet and Cockenzie, which are approaching the ends of their working lives, already account for almost 20% of Scotland’s current CO2 emissions.

Yet under these new plans, their lives could be extended for a generation.

There are also plans for a new coal fired power station at Hunterston, near the soon to be decommissioned nuclear facility. If this proposal goes ahead, it will seriously threaten our capacity to meet our climate change targets.

Is there a future for coal?

Scotland has a huge array of renewable energy sources to draw on, such as tidal, wave and wind power.

We can also do a lot to promote better energy efficiency. As well as creating warm homes this could save a fortune in fuel bills and provide thousands of jobs in the building and construction industries.

We believe there should be no future for new ‘unabated’ coal in Scotland. However, there is a technology that could help reduce the quantity of harmful gases released by coal power.

Carbon Capture and Storage

Carbon capture and storage technology (CCS) can cut emissions by up to 90%, and the CO2 can be stored for hundreds or even thousands of years.

Leading NASA climate expert James Hansen recently wrote to the First Minister warning that new coal-fired power plants without emission capturing technology would cause disaster.

If the Scottish Government approves any new coal power, we are calling for it to have carbon capture and storage running from the outset.

The technology could be delivered if politicians impose tough emissions standards on new power stations. Without this technology, all applications for new coal power should be refused.

What you can do