Five Fundamental Trends of Global Energy Sector, European Green Deal as Deterrents to Development of Mining and Energy Sector

Yu.A. Plakitkin, L.S. Plakitkina
The Energy Research Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russian Federation
Russian Mining Industry №4 / 2021 р. 94-100

Abstract: As part of the Paris Agreement on climate change, Russia has made a commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 70% by 2030 (compared to the 1990 level) with account for maximum carbon sequestration capacity of forests and other ecosystems. Implementation of the Paris Agreement significantly extends the effects of the fundamental global energy sector trends on development of the energy producing sectors and results in reduced consumption of coal and other conventional energy sources. The authors identified the following five trends in development of global energy sector, i.e. increasing energy density, global energy transition, impact of local energy transitions on the global technological development, growth of energy density and labor productivity, formation of "carbon trap". The paper discusses the anticipated large technological leaps to be realized in the world economy by the middle of the XXI century. Measures and proposals on adaptation of the coal industry to the new conditions of the world economic development are presented. Among these, particular attention should be paid to the preparation of a new Coal Strategy-2050, which would include the development of a "stress scenario" of a possible reduction in coal consumption due to the decarbonisation of the global economy by 2050 and the implementation of hydrogen energy programmes by many countries.

Keywords: Agreement on climate change, decarbonisation of economy, transboundary carbon management, global energy transition, per capita fuel consumption, local energy transition

For citation: Plakitkin Yu.A., Plakitkina L.S. Five Fundamental Regularities of Global Energy Sector, European Green Deal as Deterrents to Development of Mining and Energy Sector. Gornaya promyshlennost = Russian Mining Industry. 2021;(4):94–100. (In Russ.) DOI 10.30686/1609-9192-2021-4-94-100

Article info

Received: 31.05.2021

Revised: 12.07.2021

Accepted: 15.07.2021

Information about the authors

Yury A. Plakitkin – Doctor of Science (Economics), Full Professor, Member of Academy of Mining Sciences, Member of Russian Academy of Natural Sciences, Head of Centre for Innovative Development of Power Industries, The Energy Research Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russian Federation; e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Lyudmila S. Plakitkina – Candidate of Science (Engineering), Corresponding Member of Russian Academy of Natural Sciences, Head of Centre for Studies of Global and Russian Coal Mining Industry, The Energy Research Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russian Federation; e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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