German energy giant RWE to end coal use by 2030

German climate protection minister Robert Habeck and RWE chief executive Markus Krebber give a press conference on the agreement (Kay Nietfeld/dpa/AP)

German energy giant RWE has said it will phase out the burning of coal by 2030, saving 280 million metric tons of climate-changing greenhouse gas emissions.

The decision will accelerate the closure of some of Europe’s most polluting power plants and a vast lignite strip mine in the west of the country.