In terms of thermal coal, the Group has set an exit deadline, in line with the SDS (Sustainable Develop- ment Scenario) scenario of the International Ener- gy Agency (IEA), compatible with the climate goals of the Paris Agreement: In 2019 and in 2020, the Group strengthened its position on coal, announ- cing its plan to reduce its thermal coal exposure to zero by 2030 in OECD countries, and by 2040 in the rest of the world. The Group had already elected in 2017 not to finance any projects in the thermal coal sector. To work towards its gradual exit goal, BNP Paribas plans to step up its dialogue with cor- porate clients using coal to generate part of their electricity, in order to determine to what extent their projections are aligned with the Group's exit goals by geographic area. BNP Paribas will no longer ac- cept any new customers with a coal related revenue share of more than 25% and will end up terminating its relations with any companies developing new coal-based electricity generation capacities.