Plant or mine closure

The closure of coal and oil operations is a common adaptation response to decarbonisation policy. Closures can be the result of direct government phase-out policies, or through indirect economic pressures, including carbon pricing, that make burning coal too expensive to be economically viable. Phase out policies usually provide a date by which all operations must cease. Economic closures are also usually announced years in advance.

The main actors relevant for this strategy are national governments, who often create coal or oil phase-out policies, and companies, who must undertake the closures. The EU is also an important actor because they have set the timelines for phase out for member states. Workers and unions are directly affected. Policies requiring closures and associated unfavourable economic conditions usually take place in middle transition stages when pressures for transition are strong. Closures have largely been successful in advancing decarbonisation.