The Global Energy Monitor estimates 8.9 billion tonnes of coal are mined each year, from 6,900 recorded coal mines across 70 countries. Irrespective of how the coal is eventually used, the act of coal mining itself emits around 15.7 million tonnes of methane globally per year (equivalent to 1.3 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent over 20 yrs), more than oil or gas. Methane is a powerful climate change accelerator. Global coal mining capacity is still increasing year-on-year, but the rate of that increase slowed in 2024 compared to 2023, which added a total of 105 million tonnes of coal annually from newly-opened coal mines. In addition to this, as of July 2025, there were plans for over 850 new mines, expansions, and extensions announced or under development worldwide, amounting to 2,270 million tonnes of coal annually of new capacity. China, India, Australia, and Russia comprise nearly 90% of all proposed mine developments. China alone has 1,350 Mtpa in development — more than all other countries combined.
In the ‘gassiest’ of coal mines, the methane released during the act of coal mining contributes as much to climate change as burning the coal mined. Unlike CO2 from burning coal, methane release from mining coal is not consistently measured and there is little in the way of international commitments to reduce it. This is concerning as coal mine methane emissions must fall 11% each year until 2030 if we are to remain within reach of the International Energy Agency’s roadmap for Net Zero 2030, according to Global Energy Monitor.
As of 2025, just one large commercial coal mine within the UK is in operation - Aberpergwm, a deep coal mine in South Wales. Aberpergwm secured an extension in 2022 to extract up to an additional 42 million tonnes of coal until 2039. There is one small deep mine in Northumberland with 7 staff and permission to operate until 2069, and 7 other 'artisanal' coal mines operating in the Forest of Dean, Gloucester. Glan Lash dormant opencast coal mine in South Wales reapplied in 2024 to reopen the coal mine and expand it after its 2018 application to do the same was rejected in 2023. There is also a live proposal to mine around 400,000 tonnes of coal from two coal tips in Bedwas.
Although significant, the volume of coal mining in the UK now is tiny compared with the historical coal mining sector in the UK which was a major employer of over 100,000 of workers at the industry's height, whereas by June 2025, the sector employed just 267 people. The extensive coal mining across the UK has, however, cast a long shadow with old coal mines still leaking methane into our atmosphere, communities surrounding historic coal mining sites still suffering deprivation relative to the UK average, and live struggles to secure restoration of opencast sites effectively abandoned by coal mine operators.
Click on the current and recent coal mine-specific campaigns of the UK below:
Significant emissions can be released from coal mining and impacts from coal mining can be wide-ranging with global and local consequences. These include:
* measured over 20 years, UNECE
Burning coal emits more CO2 than any other fuel source for the amount of energy it produces. Burning coal also pollutes our air with many other hazardous gasses, including... Read more
