In a groundbreaking move, the World Coal Association (WCA) has undergone a transformative rebranding, giving rise to a new era under the banner of “FutureCoal – The Global Alliance for Sustainable Coal.” The shift was unveiled at a dedicated press conference in Delhi, where FutureCoal Chief Executive, Michelle Manook, outlined the organisation’s vision and purpose.
The decision to rebrand comes after 38 years of the WCA’s existence and reflects a collective call from the coal and coal-allied sectors to modernise and unite under a common objective. FutureCoal aims to represent major and strategic players across the entire coal value chain, advocating for an inclusive international policy framework that embraces all fuels and technologies.
Manook emphasised the need for a united front, stating, “For too long, anti-coal sentiment has dominated and fragmented our global coal value chain, resulting in a lower global coal IQ. This has not only hampered the progress of vulnerable developing and emerging nations but has also impacted some developed nations. FutureCoal, though bold to some, is simply representative of the reality we confront.”
The FutureCoal Global Alliance stands as a testament to this transformation, with its cornerstone being Sustainable Coal Stewardship (SCS). This platform enables coal-based economies, such as India and China, along with like-minded nations and corporations, to collaborate and propel a progressive, technology-led international coal value chain industry.
“The total contribution of the coal value chain in sectors including power, steel, cement, aluminium, chemicals, and renewables infrastructure is in the order of hundreds of billions and is an interconnected global supply chain,” Manook noted. “This cannot be ignored, but equally, it can only be secured by our value chain acknowledging that change must occur. If we are to be responsible, then we need to be inclusive and unite under our common purpose.”
Acknowledging the global significance of the coal industry, FutureCoal Chairman July Ndlovu expressed, “The platform for collaboration, in the best interests of our global community, now exists – in FutureCoal. The leaders of this new legacy understand that this is our responsibility to the future. That this future is before us. And that this future is now.”
