The International Energy Agency is forecasting falling use of coal.
Coal is forecast to drop as a primary energy source. Photo: AFP
It says the share of coal for electricity generation will drop from 41 percent in 2014 to 36 percent by 2021.
As a primary energy source, coal will slip from 30 percent to 27 percent.
It said this was being driven largely by events in China, where authorities were under under pressure to reduce choking air pollution.
China used 50 percent of the world's coal.
Coal produces a lot of greenhouse gas emissions relative to its energy output and also causes visible air pollution.
In another comment, the agency said the world could run into a slight oil production deficit early next year after both OPEC and non OPEC countries agreed to cut production.
But it qualified this by saying the cut was for six months only and followed months of high production.