**UK Shuts Down Last Coal Plant, Becoming First G7 Nation to Eliminate Coal Power**

In a historic environmental milestone, the United Kingdom has officially shut down its last remaining coal plant. This move marks the first time a G7 country has completely ended its dependence on coal, the original fossil fuel.

After 142 years of using coal for electricity, the UK has met the ambitious deadline set in 2015 to phase out coal by 2025. According to the climate publication Carbon Brief, this significant step is anticipated to lower UK demand for coal to levels seen before the industrial revolution.

This moment is especially poignant given that the UK is the birthplace of coal-fired electricity. Coal combustion is notorious for releasing more greenhouse gases than any other fossil fuel, making its elimination a crucial part of global efforts to combat climate change. Following the UK's example, all G7 nations, including the US, have set their own targets to shut down any coal plants that don’t capture carbon emissions by 2035.

On a broader scale, coal burning among the 38 countries in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has been cut in half since its peak in 2007. Notably, several smaller OECD member states, such as Belgium, Austria, Sweden, and Portugal, have already gone coal-free in the past decade.

This development underscores the growing global commitment to reducing reliance on fossil fuels and transitioning to cleaner energy sources.