Brian Barton
Coal is a carbon-rich rock formed over thousands of years by heat and pressure. It is an abundant and inexpensive fuel source, providing over one-third of global electricity. However, its production and use have severe environmental and health impacts. Coal mining, particularly surface mining, is destructive to landscapes and ecosystems, and coal-fired power plants emit toxic pollutants and contribute to climate change. As a result, coal is widely recognised as the most polluting way to generate electricity.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Pollution | Coal is the most polluting way to produce electricity, releasing massive amounts of pollution and contributing to climate change. |
| Greenhouse Gas Emissions | Coal is the dirtiest fuel, emitting much more carbon dioxide than other sources. In 2022, coal-fired power plants accounted for about 19% of total US energy-related CO2 emissions and 55% of total CO2 emissions from the electric power sector. |
| Health Impacts | Coal-related air pollution contributes to asthma, cancer, heart and lung disease, stroke, and neurological problems. In the US, there are 50,000 coal-related deaths annually, and in Australia, coal's health impacts cost taxpayers $2.4 billion annually. |
| Environmental Impact | Coal mining operations can destroy landscapes, obliterate mountain streams and valleys, and contaminate water sources. |
| Global Demand | Coal supplies over one-third of global electricity generation. In 2024, global coal use reached 8.77 billion tonnes, a record high. |
| Alternatives | Cleaner and cheaper alternatives to coal are available, including natural gas, renewables like solar and wind, and energy-efficient technologies. |
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What You'll Learn
Coal is the most polluting way to produce electricity
Coal is a carbon-rich black rock that releases energy when burned. It is an abundant and inexpensive fuel source that supplies over one-third of global electricity generation. However, it is also the most polluting way to produce electricity.
Coal mining and power plants that burn coal have detrimental effects on the environment and human health. In the United States, coal accounts for about one-quarter of all energy-related carbon emissions, with CO2 emissions from coal-fired power plants reaching record levels in 2022. Coal-fired power generation rose by nearly 2% in 2022, driven by high gas prices and extreme weather events. This trend is not aligned with the Net Zero Emissions by 2050 Scenario, which calls for a global decline in coal-fired generation of around 55% by 2030.
The process of coal mining can involve surface mining or strip mining, which removes entire layers of soil and rock to access coal deposits. This method of mining is particularly destructive, uprooting and polluting ecosystems and changing the landscape. Mountaintop removal and valley fill mining have affected large areas of the Appalachian Mountains, and the water draining from these filled valleys may contain pollutants harmful to aquatic life. Coal mining operations also produce toxic runoff that contaminates streams, rivers, and lakes, and they dump vast amounts of waste rock and soil into waterways.
When coal is burned in power stations, it releases massive amounts of pollution, including greenhouse gases, mercury, lead, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and other heavy metals. These pollutants have severe health impacts on miners, workers, and surrounding communities. Air pollution from coal-fired power plants is linked to asthma, cancer, heart and lung disease, neurological problems, and premature death. In the United States, coal-related deaths reach 50,000 each year, and in Australia, coal's health impacts cost taxpayers an estimated $2.4 billion annually.
Coal is also a significant contributor to climate change. The carbon dioxide released from burning coal is a heat-trapping gas that warms the Earth beyond normal limits. The consequences of this global warming include drought, sea level rise, flooding, extreme weather, and species loss.
While coal has been a crucial source of electricity generation, the transition to cleaner and more affordable sources of electricity is essential to mitigate coal's worst impacts on the environment and human health.
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Coal extraction methods are detrimental to the environment
Surface mining, also known as strip mining, involves removing the soil and rock above coal deposits. This process can severely alter the landscape and reduce the value of the surrounding natural environment. It disrupts aesthetic elements such as landforms, colours, textures, and natural vegetation. The removal of vegetative cover and the displacement of topsoil increase the quantity of dust, which degrades air quality, impacts vegetation, and poses health risks to mine workers and nearby residents.
Mountaintop removal and valley fill mining involve removing the tops of mountains with explosives, changing the landscape and impacting water sources. This type of extraction has affected large areas of the Appalachian Mountains in West Virginia and Kentucky. Streams are covered with rock and dirt, and the water draining from these filled valleys may contain pollutants harmful to aquatic wildlife downstream.
Coal extraction methods also contribute to air pollution and the emission of toxic pollutants. Coal mining releases particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, and sulfur dioxide into the atmosphere, which contribute to smog, haze, and respiratory illnesses. The burning of coal emits toxic and carcinogenic substances, including mercury and other heavy metals, which have been linked to neurological and developmental damage in humans and animals. Coal-fired power plants are major sources of air pollution, with their emissions contributing to heart disease, cancer, stroke, and chronic respiratory diseases.
Furthermore, coal extraction methods can lead to safety hazards and disasters. Underground mining hazards include suffocation, gas poisoning, roof collapse, and gas explosions. Open-cut mining presents risks of mine wall failures and vehicle collisions. Coal mining disasters have resulted in hundreds of deaths in recent years.
The environmental impacts of coal extraction methods are significant, and efforts are being made to reduce these effects. However, the overall trend in coal-fired power generation is not aligned with the goal of achieving Net Zero Emissions by 2050, highlighting the urgent need for a transition to renewable energy sources.
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Burning coal releases airborne toxins and pollutants
Coal is an abundant and inexpensive fuel source that currently supplies over one-third of global electricity generation. However, it is also a polluting and hazardous substance, with profound environmental and public health impacts. When burned, coal releases a mixture of toxic airborne pollutants and heavy metals, including mercury, lead, cadmium, arsenic, and particulate matter (soot). These pollutants have been linked to a range of health problems, including asthma, heart and lung disease, cancer, stroke, and neurological issues.
In 2022, coal-fired power plants in the United States emitted 197,286 tons of small airborne particles (10 micrometers or less in diameter). Other harmful pollutants emitted by US coal power plants in the same year included 41.2 tons of lead, 9,332 pounds of cadmium, and toxic heavy metals such as arsenic. These emissions have severe consequences for the health of miners, workers, and surrounding communities. For example, in Australia, coal's health impacts cost taxpayers an estimated $2.4 billion annually, with over two million people exposed to toxic pollutants from coal-fired power stations.
In addition to the direct health impacts, burning coal contributes to global warming and climate change. Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from coal-fired power plants are a significant driver of global warming, with coal-fired generation reaching an all-time high in 2022. This trend is not aligned with the Net Zero Emissions by 2050 Scenario, which calls for an immediate reduction in unabated coal-fired generation.
To address these issues, various measures have been implemented. The Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act require industries to reduce pollutants released into the air and water. The coal industry has developed technologies to remove impurities from coal and increase energy efficiency, reducing the amount of coal burned. Additionally, equipment such as flue gas desulfurization (scrubbers) is used to clean sulfur and other pollutants from power plant emissions. While these efforts have helped, more needs to be done to mitigate the harmful effects of burning coal on human health and the environment.
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Coal-fired power plants are linked to asthma, cancer, and heart disease
Coal-fired power plants emit a range of air pollutants, including sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and fine particles (PM2.5). These emissions have been linked to adverse health outcomes, particularly for people living in close proximity to the plants.
Several studies have found a link between coal-fired power plants and asthma. Research conducted in Louisville, Kentucky, showed that reductions in sulfur dioxide emissions from four coal-fired power plants were associated with improved asthma outcomes in the local population. The study, led by Dr. Joan Casey of Columbia University, utilized data from AIR Louisville, a project that tracked asthma medication usage through digital sensors attached to inhalers. The results indicated a decrease in asthma symptoms, hospitalizations, and emergency room visits when coal-fired power plant emissions were reduced.
Coal-fired power plants have also been associated with an increased risk of respiratory disease and lung cancer. A review of 113 studies over 30 years found higher death rates and earlier ages of death among people living near these plants. The elevated health risks are attributed to exposure to air pollutants, heavy metals, and radioactive material in coal ash, a waste product of the power plants.
In addition to respiratory and lung issues, coal-fired power plants have been linked to cardiovascular disease. The emissions from these plants, including sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, and heavy metals, contribute to worse cardiovascular health and higher death rates in nearby populations. Burning coal also releases radioactive isotopes, such as uranium, thorium, and ruthenium, which can accumulate in the human body and lead to long-term health issues.
While regulations and technologies have been implemented to reduce emissions and improve coal-burning processes, the specific components and exposure levels that lead to toxic health outcomes are still being studied.
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Coal contributes to climate change and species loss
Coal is a carbon-rich black rock that releases energy when burned. It is an abundant and inexpensive fuel source, but it is also polluting. When coal is dug up and burned in power stations, it releases massive amounts of pollution, contributing to climate change and species loss.
Climate Change
Coal is the most polluting way to produce electricity. When burned, coal releases carbon dioxide (CO2), a heat-trapping gas. CO2 emissions from burning coal for energy accounted for about 19% of total US energy-related CO2 emissions in 2022. In the US, coal accounts for roughly one-quarter of all energy-related carbon emissions.
When released into the atmosphere, carbon dioxide works like a blanket, warming the Earth above normal limits. Consequences of global warming include drought, sea level rise, flooding, extreme weather, and species loss. Climate change is a serious health threat, as extreme heat events worsen, and the risk of adverse human health impacts and intense pressure on health services increases.
Species Loss
Coal extraction requires significant land clearance, including the removal of huge amounts of soil and rock, which destroys wildlife habitats. One particularly destructive form of surface mining, mountaintop removal, involves blasting apart the top of a mountain and pushing the soil and rock into nearby valleys. Streams are sometimes covered with rock and dirt, and the water draining from these filled valleys may contain pollutants that can harm aquatic wildlife downstream.
Coal-fired power plants emit harmful pollutants, including mercury, lead, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, particulates, and various other heavy metals. These emissions contribute to smog, haze, and toxic air pollution, which can have severe health impacts on humans and wildlife. Additionally, coal plants are responsible for dumping millions of tons of toxic metals into surface water each year, with coal plants being the source of 72% of all toxic water pollution in the US, according to the EPA.
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Frequently asked questions
No, coal is always polluting. It is the most polluting way to produce electricity.
Coal pollutes the environment in several ways. Firstly, the process of extracting coal through mining operations can involve removing entire layers of soil and rock, uprooting and polluting ecosystems. Secondly, when coal is burned, it releases airborne toxins and pollutants such as mercury, lead, and nitrogen oxides, contributing to air pollution and health issues. Finally, coal mining operations can contaminate water sources through toxic runoff, acid rock drainage, and the dumping of waste.
Coal-fired power plants have been linked to various health issues, including asthma, cancer, heart and lung disease, neurological problems, and premature death. In the United States alone, there are 50,000 coal-related deaths recorded annually. Worldwide, exposure to air pollution from coal and other sources contributed to 4.2 million deaths in 2020.
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