More than 40 countries signed during the UN Climate Conference a declaration to end funding for new coal-fired power plants, as well as the closure of existing plants - in developed countries in the 2030s, in developing countries - in the 2040s, Interfax reports.

The number of signatory countries included such large coal consumers as Poland, Vietnam, Indonesia, Chile. The largest coal consumers - China, USA, India, Australia - are not yet participating in the pact.

The agreement concerns coal-fired power plants that do not use carbon dioxide capture technologies.

The UK, host of the conference, made the issue of reducing coal use a central issue in the preparations for the conference. Burning coal is considered to be the most important source of greenhouse gases in the world.