Germany agrees to end reliance on coal stations by 2038

Fossil fuels provide nearly 40% of country's power as tensions rise on phaseout timetable

Germany has agreed to end its reliance on polluting coal power stations by 2038, in a long-awaited decision that will have major ramifications for Europe's attempts to meet its Paris climate change targets.

The country is the last major bastion of coal-burning in north-western Europe and the dirtiest of fossil fuels still provides nearly 40% of Germany's power, compared with 5% in the UK, which plans to phase the fuel out entirely by 2025.