DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - The United States has made a significant commitment towards combating global warming by joining the Powering Past Coal Alliance, a coalition of 56 nations dedicated to phasing out coal power plants. U.S. Special Envoy John Kerry announced on Saturday that the Biden Administration will not build any new coal plants and will work towards gradually eliminating existing ones.

While no specific timeline was provided for the phase-out of existing plants, the Biden Administration has already initiated regulatory actions and international commitments that aim to eliminate the reliance on coal by 2035.

In a statement, John Kerry emphasized the importance of accelerating the phase-out of unabated coal power plants worldwide. He highlighted that this move will aid in the development of stronger economies and more resilient communities. Kerry also stressed the need to halt the construction of new unabated coal power plants as an initial step towards addressing the pressing issue of global warming.

The closure of coal power plants in the United States has already been underway due to economic factors, with no new facilities in the planning stage. Climate analyst Alden Meyer of the European think-tank E3G explains that the decline in coal usage is largely driven by the affordability of natural gas and renewable sources of energy.

As of October, coal currently accounts for just under 20% of the electricity produced in the United States, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. The amount of coal burned in the country has reduced by more than half since 2008.

Coal is a major contributor to heat-trapping carbon dioxide emissions, emitting around 211 pounds (96 kilograms) per million BTUs of energy produced. Comparatively, natural gas produces approximately 117 pounds (53 kilograms), and gasoline emits about 156 pounds (71 kilograms) of carbon dioxide per million BTUs, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

The United States has been putting pressure on other nations, particularly China and India, which have been rapidly constructing new coal power plants. These countries are being urged to transition to cleaner forms of energy due to the higher levels of carbon emissions associated with coal.

The Powering Past Coal Alliance, formed six years ago, had 50 member countries until Saturday when the United States and six others joined. Among the new members are the Czech Republic and the Dominican Republic.

Kosovo's environment minister, Artane Rizvanolli, expressed the country's commitment to a socially just and clean energy sector when explaining their decision to join the Powering Past Coal Alliance. Rizvanolli emphasized that transitioning to alternative energy sources requires strong cooperation and support.

The United States' decision to join the Powering Past Coal Alliance demonstrates its dedication to combatting climate change and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This marks a significant step towards a more sustainable and environmentally conscious future.