UN conference host Britain said 77 countries had pledged to phase out coal, dirtiest of the fossil fuels that drive global warming, as a study showed the carbon dioxide they release into the atmosphere had already rebounded to near pre-pandemic levels.

The deal saw 23 nations making new commitments, a move the president of the COP26 summit, Alok Sharma, said put the end of coal "in sight".

Sharma told a news conference it had been a personal priority as COP26 president to consign coal to history and "I think you can say with confidence that coal is no longer king".

- Reuters -