Coal Ascendant in the 21st Century

Coal burning is rising everywhere save the U.S. If no changes are made to promote alternatives, it will overtake oil as the world's top energy source within a decade according to a new report from the Paris-based International Energy Agency (IEA).

2 minute read

December 21, 2012, 8:00 AM PST

By Irvin Dawid


The forecast of 2.6% annual coal consumption increase for the next six years included in the "Medium-Term Coal Market Report" is important because coal emits more carbon dioxide, criteria pollutants, and toxic emissions than either natural gas or oil, so impacts on climate change and public health are severe.  Even in Europe, which has a cap & trade system and where many countries are signatories of the Kyoto climate treaty, coal use is expected to continue rising until 2017.

Marek Strzelecki writes that "(c)oal consumption will climb to 4.32 billion tons of oil equivalent by 2017, compared with about 4.4 billion for oil (see chart).  Demand for coal rose 4.3 percent last year, with China accounting for 67 percent of the increase" and is expected "to replace Japan as the largest importer of the fuel", according to the report written by the International Energy Agency.

"Thanks to abundant supplies and insatiable demand for power from emerging markets, coal met nearly half of the rise in global energy demand during the first decade of the 21st Century,” IEA Executive Director Maria van der Hoeven said. “Coal’s share of the global energy mix continues to grow each year, and if no changes are made to current policies, coal will catch oil within a decade.”

Energy & Environment Publishing's Manuel Quinones writes about the important roles played by natural gas, carbon pricing, and carbon capture and storage (CC&S).

"Without charging high prices for burning coal, the IEA's van der Hoeven suggested gas as an antidote for reducing global CO2 emissions.

"The U.S. experience suggests that a more efficient gas market, marked by flexible pricing and fueled by indigenous unconventional resources that are produced sustainably, can reduce coal use, CO2 emissions and consumers' electricity bills, without harming energy security," said van der Hoeven. "Europe, China and other regions should take note."

"CCS technologies are not taking off as once expected, which means CO2 emissions will keep growing substantially", she said.

She added, "Without progress in CCS, and if other countries cannot replicate the U.S. experience and reduce coal demand, coal faces the risk of a potential climate policy backlash."

See IEA's "Medium-Term Coal Market Report 2012 Factsheet" to see who the world's largest coal exporters, importers, and coal projections for major regions of the world.


Wednesday, December 19, 2012 in Bloomberg News

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Wastewater pouring out from a pipe.

Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage

Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”

April 13, 2025 - Inside Climate News

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

April 16, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Blue and white Seattle Link light rail train exiting concrete Downtown Bellevue Tunnel in Bellevue, WA.

Why Should We Subsidize Public Transportation?

Many public transit agencies face financial stress due to rising costs, declining fare revenue, and declining subsidies. Transit advocates must provide a strong business case for increasing public transit funding.

April 7, 2025 - Todd Litman

Bright car headlights with glare at night.

Blinded by the Light: When Brighter Headlights Decrease Safety

Bright LED headlights can create glare and reduce visibility for other drivers and pedestrians.

15 minutes ago - Vox

Coronavirus Driver

Study Links Covid and Poor Driving

The effects of the virus, including ‘brain fog,’ can make driving more difficult and dangerous.

1 hour ago - Streetsblog USA

Streetcar and bus stopped at station on Market Street in San Francisco with Ferry Building visible in background.

Waymo Gets Permission to Map SF’s Market Street

If allowed to operate on the traffic-restricted street, Waymo’s autonomous taxis would have a leg up over ride-hailing competitors — and counter the city’s efforts to grow bike and pedestrian on the thoroughfare.

April 16 - San Francisco Examiner