German coal use at highest level since 1990

[FBaggins]

7. Why does that matter?

Why care how "sudden" the decision was?

Nothing changes the fact that ALL of the progress that Germany has made toward renewables (clearly one of the most substantial moves globally) doesn't come close to replacing their nuclear plants.

Which is why they're near the top in renewables growth rates... but on the wrong end of the carbon emissions end as well (all while paying higher prices than almost anyone).

Had they left the nuclear plants alone - either in 2001 or a decade later - all of those renewables would be knocking king coal down to size.

A policy that (I point out yet again) you supported until just a couple years ago.

On edit -

Also... when looking at the extent (if any) to which renewables are replacing nuclear... wouldn't you need to compare the planned growth of renewables pre/post the 2011 nuclear decision? After all... if we can't "count" new coal plants that were already planned prior to 2011... why would we count renewables that were planned prior to that point?