Climate Change Breakthrough: France Will Close All Its Coal Power Plants By 2023

First Posted: Nov 19, 2016 03:50 AM EST

President Francois Hollande announced that all the coal-fired power plants across France will be shut down by 2023. He spoke at the annual U.N. climate change conference in Marrakech, Morocco, on Wednesday.

President Hollande also praised President Barack Obama for his pursuant and work on climate change. He stated that the role played by Obama was crucial in achieving the Paris Agreement. He added that it is "irreversible." He also stated that they need carbon neutrality by 2050, and for France's part, coal will not form part of their energy mix in six to seven years' time.

The role played by @BarackObama was crucial in achieving the #ParisAgreement @fhollande #COP22 pic.twitter.com/qgMCCKAVtf

— COP22 (@COP22) November 15, 2016

According to The Independent, France is already a world leader in low-carbon energy. It invested in nuclear power in the past few decades and currently obtains over 75 percent of its electricity from nuclear fission. In fact, it exports much nuclear energy to nearby nations with around £2.5 billion (approximately $3,088,500,000) each year.

“We have no right to gamble with the fate of future generations” @UN SG Ban Ki-moon pic.twitter.com/FzyQjNlYvn — COP22 (@COP22) November 15, 2016

The U.K. will shut its coal-fired power plants by 2025. In Germany, gas emissions would probably cut by as much as 95 percent by 2050, according to IFL Science.

Meanwhile, China's Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin commented on what President Donald Trump statement's "global warming is a Chinese hoax to make US manufacturing less profitable." Mr. Zhenmin said that he hopes the Republican administration will continue to support the process of tackling global warming. He further said that they must expect the administration will take a right and smart decision.

Likewise, China's President Xi Jinping said that China would continue its fight against global warming whatever the circumstances, although he stressed the significance of cooperation with the U.S.