Is Coal Production Dropping?

Coal is the most abundant fossil fuel in the world. That’s not to say there’s an endless supply, of course. But there is more coal than natural gas or oil. However, this huge energy supply also brings with it a significant environmental impact. The burning of the coal causes gases like sulphur dioxide to pollute the air, which leads to issues like smog and acid rain. But could the giant of the energy world finally be on a downward slope?

Coal in numbers

According to data from the US Energy Information Administration, coal production has gone down by nearly a third (28%) in the first half of 2016, compared to figures from 2015. In the same period, natural gas has actually overtaken coal as the top source of electricity generation, which is the primary use of coal worldwide.

Meanwhile, a number of coal-burning power plants have been closed and coal production in the Appalachian Mountains has dropped by half in the last five years. It’s part of a broader trend. Since the peak of coal production in 2008, coal production in the US has decreased by 500 million tonnes a year.

Face the consequences

These changes obviously have some bad effects, namely the loss of jobs and destruction of coal-mining communities, but what are the benefits? Well, carbon dioxide emissions have seen a decline since the drop in coal production. This means less of a carbon footprint for the US and less carbon dioxide contributing to global warming.

Air pollution is also a big consequence of coal, as previously mentioned. The emission of sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxide can cause a number of health risks. Not only respiratory diseases like asthma and lung cancer, but also stroke and heart disease. Reducing coal reliance means less emissions and less health risks. The reduced damage to the environment is an economic benefit too. Dealing with the issues from air pollution and global warming cost more than you might think.

Commonplace

Carbon footprints are no longer a new phenomenon. Businesses are now expected to measure and report their contribution to carbon emissions, with projects like the Carbon Disclosure Project and Global Reporting Initiative. The next step, however, is to make proper reduction strategies. ‘Enabling Carbon Management – Moving Beyond Carbon Measurement and Reporting’ discusses how management is next in the process. These projects and the businesses involved in them need to actually address the problem now that the foundations are firmly in place – and it could benefit them.