The Global Energy Monitor estimates 7.2 billion tonnes of coal are mined each year, from 3,670 recorded coal mines across 70 countries. Coal mining worldwide emits around 52 million tonnes of methane per year (equivalent to 4,320 million tonnes of CO2*), more than oil (39 million tonnes) or gas (45 million tonnes). If new coal mines under development go ahead, they would add another 11.3 million tonnes of methane per year (equivalent to 936 million tonnes of CO2*). Methane is a powerful climate change accelerant.
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.
With the 15-month long illegal coal mining operation finally halted at the Ffos-y-fran opencast coal mine, 2024 has just a single commercial coal mine in operation - Aberpergwm, a deep coal mine in South Wales. Aberpergwm secured an extension in 2022 to extract up to an additional 40 million tonnes of coal until 2039. There are 5 other artisanal coal mines operating in Northumberland and Gloucester. Although significant, the volume of coal mining 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 in June 2024, the sector employed just 285 people (excluding employment at Ffos-y-fran as the coal operator is refusing to report to the Coal Authority).
Below shows these coal mines with the expected quantities of coal to be mined and associated emissions – click on the coal mines to find out more.
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
