Watch Fmovies. The lives of Ruth, Philipp, and Anja are directly linked to coal. And so they are also directly affected by the debate surrounding the coal phase-out. They are concerned about their future, but from different perspectives and in different ways. The days of coal are numbered. A coal commission is currently working on a concept for phasing out coal that includes an end date for lignite mining and power generation while ensuring that the climate protection target for 2030 is achieved. Germany already generates almost 40 percent of its electricity needs from renewable energies.