Rapid fuel switching from coal to natural gas through effective carbon pricing

Britain’s overall carbon emissions fell by 6% in 2016 due to cleaner electricity production. This was 10 not due to a surge in low-carbon nuclear or renewable sources; instead it was the much-overlooked 11 impact of fuel switching from coal to natural gas generation. This Perspective considers the enabling 12 conditions in Britain and the potential for rapid fuel switching in other coal-reliant countries. We find 13 that spare generation and fuel supply-chain capacity must already exist for fuel switching to deliver 14 rapid carbon savings, and to avoid further high-carbon infrastructure lock-in. More important is the 15 political will to alter the marketplace and incentivise this switch, for example through a strong and 16 stable carbon price. With the right incentives, fuel switching in the power sector could rapidly achieve 17 on the order of 1 GtCO2 saving per year worldwide (3% of global emissions), buying precious time to 18 slow the growth in cumulative carbon emissions.