Coal fuels emerging markets, European popularity declines

Paris

COMPANIES, banks and investment funds, primarily European, have been coming out in recent weeks with announcements that they will halt investments in coal, a new front in efforts to reduce use of the highly polluting fuel that faces a battle against the hunger for power in emerging markets.

The latest move came on Friday, when Norway's parliament voted to force its sovereign wealth fund - the world's biggest - to pull out of firms that are heavily involved with coal.

Earlier in the week, French energy group Total announced that it would withdraw from its coal activities, notably in South Africa where it is involved in the production and sale of the fuel which is important for electricity in numerous co…