As the vote last week on my Instagram (@wastemakeswaste) was to talk about bees, this week I’ll be discussing the other topic, which is coal. Although we are moving towards the end of the coal industry, coal is still an issue in many countries around the world, and it is still important to understand why it causes so many problems.
Coal is a black rock that is rich in carbon, releases energy when burned and has a number of problems. Alongside energy, it also releases lead, arsenic, mercury, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide and particulates. In some cases, these by-products can cause asthma, heart problems, cancer, neurological disorders and brain damage. Just like burning charcoal when you have a barbecue, burning coal creates ash, which can end up in lakes and contaminate waterways. Mines are also disruptive to the environment, as they can create acid rock drainage and destruction of mountain streams.
Sadly, coal is very cheap to use, and so it became a huge part of the energy sector. A third of global electricity is generated from coal, yet coal is responsible for 46% of carbon emissions worldwide and 72% of green house gas emissions come from the electricity sector. Between 2001 and 2010, world coal consumption increased by 45%, and although a lot of countries are moving away from coal, there are still many that rely on it. On the plus side, the UK is relatively anti-coal. We have blocked construction of new power stations, and instead backed renewable energy like wind and solar power. This has helped to force investment away from coal. There are only two coal units in the UK that have not announced closure plans – Ratcliffe and West Burton. Most have announced closure or conversion plans, such as one of the most famous, Drax power station, which will close after September 2022. So yes, the age of coal is starting to end, especially in the UK, however, lots of other countries rely on coal, and some are even increasing their coal production.
So, in the UK, coal is becoming less of an issue everyday. However, you should still do your best to reduce your energy use, make sure you’re on a green energy tariff, and support organisations that lobby against coal use in other countries. Coal is just part of the story of greenhouse gases – more on that soon – so we can take comfort in this victory, and keep pushing for even more.
Sources:
- Countdown to 2025: Tracking the UK coal phase out – https://www.carbonbrief.org/countdown-to-2025-tracking-the-uk-coal-phase-out
- Coal Power Impacts – https://www.ucsusa.org/resources/coal-power-impacts
- End Coal – https://endcoal.org/climate-change/
- High Cost of Cheap Coal: The Coal Paradox – https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/high-cost-coal/
- How the coal industry fuels climate change – https://wayback.archive-it.org/9650/20200220105255/http://p3-raw.greenpeace.org/international/en/campaigns/climate-change/coal/Coal-fuels-climate-change/
- Greenpeace: Coal – https://www.greenpeace.org.uk/challenges/coal/
Waste Makes Waste 