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Future of Coal Series

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Despite major shifts in the industry and serious worries in coal communities, today coal still supplies nearly 40% of our electricity. According to the Bureau of Land Management, one out of every five homes and business in the US use electricity made from Wyoming coal. But what does the future look like for fossil fuels in a world where there is increasing pressure to keep them in the ground? In this series, we examine the role of coal as an energy source in a world where constraints on carbon emissions are adopted to mitigate global warming. Indeed, the challenge for governments and industry is to find a path that mitigates carbon emissions yet continues to utilize coal to meet urgent energy needs, especially in developing economies.

Future of Coal Series

COAL: Best performing commodity of the year

Sep 14, 2016 08:49 am UTC| Commentary

Surprisingly yes and specifically metallurgical coal. Surprising, because the declining price of coal for past few years have claimed some prominent victims. Peabody Energy, which was the worlds largest producer of coal...

Future of Coal Series

As coal mining declines, community mental health problems linger

Aug 02, 2016 05:32 am UTC| Insights & Views Health

The U.S. coal industry is in rapid decline, a shift marked not only by the bankruptcy of many mine operators in coal-rich Appalachia but also by a legacy of potential environmental and social disasters. As mines close,...

Future of Coal Series

Climate Change Series

India is hedging its bets on coal to bring power to the people

Jun 15, 2016 07:08 am UTC| Insights & Views Economy Nature

As the world moves to combat climate change, its increasingly doubtful that coal will continue to be a viable energy source, because of its high greenhouse gas emissions. But coal played a vital role in the Industrial...

Future of Coal Series

Is coal the only way to deal with energy poverty in developing economies?

Jun 14, 2016 08:30 am UTC| Insights & Views Nature Economy

Future of Coal Series

Coal and industrial relations: how miners secured workers' rights

Jun 10, 2016 02:32 am UTC| Insights & Views

Coal mining, major industrial disputes, and the coal miner himself, are iconic representations of the industrial age. Demand for coal came from expanding urban centres as a result of the Industrial Revolution, and new...

Future of Coal Series

Climate Change Series

South Australia is now coal-free, and batteries could fill the energy gap

May 13, 2016 10:15 am UTC| Insights & Views Nature

South Australias last coal-fired power station closed on Monday this week, leaving the state with only gas and wind power generators. The Northern Power Station, in Port Augusta on the northern end of the Spencer Gulf,...

Future of Coal Series

Climate Change Series

River on fire: even if it's not coal seam gas we should still be concerned

May 03, 2016 07:12 am UTC| Insights & Views Nature

Astonishing footage of a river in Queensland on fire has once again stoked the coal seam gas (CSG) debate. The video shows NSW Greens MP Jeremy Buckingham setting fire to methane seeping from the Condamine...

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Economy

Diesel Dilemma: U.S. Considers Export Ban Amidst Record Prices

Rising domestic costs to unprecedented levels, President Trump has said support for a short ban on U.S. diesel exportsa complicated issue for the administration. Driven by the Middle East war, supply interruptions, and...

Asian Stocks Mixed Ahead of Trump-Xi Meeting

Asian stock markets traded mixed on Wednesday as investors remained cautious ahead of a closely watched meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. U.S. stock futures were also largely...

Asian Currencies Muted as Dollar Firms Ahead of Trump-Xi Summit

Most Asian currencies traded in narrow ranges on Wednesday as a firmer U.S. dollar and caution ahead of the Trump-Xi summit offset optimism stemming from falling oil prices. Regional trading volumes were subdued due to a...

Oil Prices Extend Losses as U.S.-Iran Talks Ease Supply Fears

Oil prices extended their decline for a sixth consecutive session on Wednesday as signs of diplomatic progress between the United States and Iran eased concerns over Middle East supply disruptions. Saudi Arabias efforts to...

Gold Prices Rise as Oil Slide Eases Fed Rate Hike Fears

Gold prices moved higher on Wednesday as a steep decline in oil prices eased inflation concerns and reduced expectations for additional interest rate increases from the U.S. Federal Reserve. Renewed signs of possible...

Politics

China Tightens Fentanyl Rules Ahead of Trump-Xi Summit

China has introduced new guidelines for handling criminal cases involving fentanyl-related substances, strengthening its legal framework for combating synthetic opioid crimes ahead of a high-profile meeting between Chinese...

Taiwan Vows to Advance US Arms Sales Ahead of Trump-Xi Meeting

Taiwan will maintain close communication with the United States to ensure planned arms sales move forward, a defence ministry official said Wednesday, as US President Donald Trump prepares to meet Chinese President Xi...

Macron Challenges Trump’s Gaza Peace Claims at UN

French President Emmanuel Macron challenged U.S. President Donald Trumps claims of achieving peace in Gaza on Tuesday, arguing that humanitarian access to the enclave had not improved despite the proclaimed agreement....

Russian Strikes Kill Eight Across Ukraine as Energy Sites Hit

Russian strikes across Ukraine killed eight people and damaged industrial and energy infrastructure on Tuesday as President Volodymyr Zelenskiy met U.S. President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the United Nations General...

Marco Rubio to Meet Russia’s Lavrov in New York

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is scheduled to meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in New York City on Wednesday morning, according to the U.S. State Department, as diplomatic attention remains focused on the...

Science

Blue Origin New Glenn Explosion Could Delay Launch Operations Until 2028

Blue Origin is facing a significant setback after a dramatic explosion involving its New Glenn rocket severely damaged a launch pad at Cape Canaveral, Florida. According to NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, repairs to the...

Blue Origin New Glenn Rocket Explodes During Launch Pad Test, Delaying Space Ambitions

Blue Origin suffered a major setback after its uncrewed New Glenn rocket exploded during a launch pad test in Florida on Thursday, raising new challenges for Jeff Bezos space company as it competes with Elon Musks SpaceX...

SpaceX Delays Starship V3 Launch Ahead of Potential Record IPO

SpaceX on Thursday postponed the highly anticipated launch of its 12th Starship rocket test from Texas after technical issues interrupted the final countdown. The company now plans to attempt the Starship V3 launch again...

Trump Administration Releases New UFO Files and Apollo Mission Records

The U.S. Defense Department has released dozens of previously classified UFO-related files following an order from President Donald Trump, sparking renewed debate over unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP) and government...

China vs. NASA: The New Moon Race and What's at Stake by 2030

The space race is back and this time, its a direct competition between the United States and China for dominance on the lunar surface. NASAs Artemis II mission recently made history when four astronauts flew farther into...

Technology

Scott Bessent Eyed as Trump’s New AI Czar

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is under consideration to become President Donald Trumps new artificial intelligence czar as Washington intensifies its focus on AI development, safety and national security. A source...

China Reviews Broadcom Switch Use in State Data Centres

China is reviewing the use of Broadcom switches in state-backed data centres as Beijing intensifies efforts to reduce dependence on foreign technology and promote domestic semiconductor and networking equipment suppliers,...

US Northeast Airports Resume Operations After Telecom Outage Disrupts Thousands of Flights

US airport operations across the Northeast began returning to normal on Monday after crews repaired telecommunications problems that had disrupted air traffic and contributed to thousands of flight delays and cancellations...

Burnham Eyes UK Leadership Role in AI Ahead of Trump Meeting

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham will push for the UK to take a global leadership role in artificial intelligence on Tuesday as he makes his first major appearance on the international diplomatic stage at the United...

OpenAI Urges US-Led Global Standards for Frontier AI

OpenAI is calling for the United States to lead an international effort to establish technical standards for advanced artificial intelligence, as concerns grow over increasingly capable AI systems and the prospect of...