Super Polluters

The world’s dirtiest power plants have a disproportionate impact on climate change. Nearly all fired by coal, closing these plants could accelerate the global transition to net zero.

So what would it take to close them? 

In Context’s new series, our correspondents take a closer look at the opportunities and challenges presented by tackling Super Polluters. We spoke to coal miners, plant workers, politicians and more to understand what the barriers are.

Analysis of coal power often focuses on national-level emissions or specific companies, missing the local contexts. Super Polluters are responsible for powering millions of homes and employing thousands of people. 

From the city depending on Europe’s largest power plant, to India’s energy capital ravaged by health issues, our reporting gets to the heart of one of the biggest challenges facing the world today.

As leaders consider the future of coal, what will it take to slash emissions from the world’s dirtiest power plants? And how can the communities which depend on them find a green future?