Why is using coal powered stations so bad for the environment?

The burning of fossil fuels releases greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, increasing levels of CO2 and other gasses, trapping heat, and contributing to global climate change. Coal-fired power plants release more greenhouse gases per unit of energy produced than any other electricity source (1).

What are some problems associated with China’s coal industry?

Health and air pollution costs China’s deployment of coal has dangerous implications for the environment, for human health and for the country’s economy. Coal combustion is the single-largest source of air pollution-related health impacts in the country, contributing to some 366,000 premature deaths in 2013 alone.

Why should we stop using coal power plants?

Coal-fired power plants have been linked to developmental defects in 300,000 infants because of their mothers’ exposure to toxic mercury pollution. Asthma rates are skyrocketing in communities exposed to particulates from burning coal, and now one out of ten children in the U.S. suffers from asthma.

Is coal the dirtiest energy source?

And the biggest dirty energy source is coal. Within the U.S., coal accounts for 46\% of electricity generation, and — because it is the most carbon-rich of all fuel types — 79\% of total U.S. carbon pollution from the energy sector. Besides warming up the planet, coal also has several other negative impacts on humans.

Is coal the biggest contributor to climate change?

Coal is the single biggest contributor to anthropogenic climate change. The burning of coal is responsible for 46\% of carbon dioxide emissions worldwide and accounts for 72\% of total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the electricity sector.

What problems have been created by China’s increase in coal fired power plants?

Burning coal, already the world’s single biggest cause of human-driven climate change, will increase China’s emissions and toxic air pollution. It will endanger the lives of coal miners. And it could impose a long-term cost on the Chinese economy, even while helping short-term growth.