It costs more to continue mining and burning coal in an existing, paid-for plant than to build out the renewables to replace it and switch to that.

So, the only thing preventing shutdown of coal is that it takes time to build out renewables.

There might be opposition from workers dependent on coal mining, and their pols.

Many countries used to be > 70% coal and are less now. Can you explain how that's somehow impossible to do in the remaining countries?

Many countries also burnt massive amounts of coal when they were industrializing. It is a bit unfair to compare a 70 year old country with a 400 year old country which routinely exports war, waste to countries poorer than themselves no?

I didn't make that comparison, and it has nothing to do with the conversation.

It's not impossible but it will take time.

Indeed, every country has taken time to reduce coal usage.