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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

Malaysia Semiconductor Industry Eyes Helium Supply Risks Amid Middle East Conflict

Malaysias semiconductor industry is closely tracking potential disruptions to global helium supplies as the ongoing conflict in the Middle East continues to ripple through international commodity markets. While no...

Bank of Japan Holds Rates Steady Amid Inflation Concerns and Yen Weakness

The Bank of Japan (BOJ) is widely expected to keep its short-term benchmark interest rate at 0.75% following its March 19 policy meeting, marking a pause after its 25 basis point hike last December. While no immediate rate...

Asian Markets Rally on AI Optimism Ahead of Fed Decision

Asian stock markets mostly advanced on Wednesday, fueled by a surge in technology stocks following major announcements at Nvidias GTC 2026 conference. Fresh AI-related partnerships and next-generation computing product...

Asian Currencies Hold Steady Amid Iran Conflict and Central Bank Decisions

Asian currencies traded in a narrow range on Wednesday as geopolitical uncertainty surrounding the U.S.-Israel war on Iran, combined with a wave of major central bank meetings, prompted traders to adopt a cautious stance....

Japan's Major Companies Lead Strong Wage Growth for Fourth Consecutive Year

Japanese corporate giants, including Toyota, Hitachi, and NEC, announced significant pay increases during this years annual wage negotiations, marking the fourth straight year of robust salary growth. The momentum reflects...

Politics

Iran Defiant as Israel-U.S. War Enters Dangerous New Phase

Iran has vowed to continue its military operations despite Israels assassination of senior security official Ali Larijani, with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi insisting the Islamic Republic does not rely on any...

Japan's Military Options in the Strait of Hormuz: What Tokyo Can and Cannot Do

Donald Trumps call for allied nations to deploy warships escorting oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz has put Japan in a difficult position, reigniting long-standing debates over how far its pacifist constitution...

Iran-Israel War Escalates: Cluster Missiles, Nuclear Fears, and Strait of Hormuz Crisis

Tensions between Iran and Israel have reached a critical point as Iran launched cluster warhead missiles at Tel Aviv overnight Tuesday, claiming the strike was retaliation for Israels assassination of senior security...

U.S. Maintains Taiwan Arms Shipments Despite Ongoing Iran Air Campaign

The Trump administration has assured Congress that ongoing U.S. and Israeli airstrikes against Iran, which began on February 28, have not disrupted weapons deliveries to Taiwan or altered American policy toward the...

Russia Captures Two More Ukrainian Villages Amid Ongoing Frontline Clashes

Russian forces have seized control of two additional Ukrainian settlements, according to a statement released by Russias Defence Ministry on Tuesday. The ministry confirmed that its armed forces took over the village of...

Science

SpaceX Pivots Toward Moon City as Musk Reframes Long-Term Space Vision

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has revealed a significant shift in the companys near-term space exploration strategy, announcing that SpaceX is now prioritizing the development of a self-growing city on the Moon rather than focusing...

SpaceX Prioritizes Moon Mission Before Mars as Starship Development Accelerates

Elon Musks SpaceX is shifting its near-term space exploration strategy, choosing to prioritize a return to the Moon before pursuing missions to Mars, according to a recent Wall Street Journal report citing sources familiar...

NASA and SpaceX Target Crew-11 Undocking From ISS Amid Medical Concern

NASA has confirmed that the agency, in coordination with SpaceX, is targeting no earlier than 5 p.m. Eastern Time (2200 GMT) on Wednesday, January 14, for the undocking of the SpaceX Crew-11 mission from the International...

Neuralink Plans High-Volume Brain Implant Production and Fully Automated Surgery by 2026

Elon Musks brain-computer interface company Neuralink is preparing for a major expansion, announcing plans to begin high-volume production of its brain implant devices and transition to a fully automated surgical procedure...

Jared Isaacman Confirmed as NASA Administrator, Becomes 15th Leader of U.S. Space Agency

The U.S. Senate has officially confirmed billionaire private astronaut Jared Isaacman as the new NASA administrator, making him the 15th leader in the agencys history. The confirmation, which took place on Wednesday, marks...

Technology

Microsoft Eyes Legal Action as Amazon-OpenAI Deal Threatens Azure Exclusivity

Microsoft is reportedly considering legal action against both Amazon and OpenAI following the announcement of a massive $50 billion cloud computing partnership between the two companies. According to the Financial Times,...

Alibaba Bets on AI Agents to Unify Its Vast Digital Ecosystem

Alibaba is doubling down on artificial intelligence by deploying AI agents designed to connect its wide-ranging portfolio of consumer and enterprise services. The strategy marks a significant pivot one that positions the...

AMD CEO Lisa Su Heads to Samsung's South Korea Chip Facility Amid AI Expansion Talks

Advanced Micro Devices CEO Lisa Su is scheduled to visit Samsung Electronics semiconductor manufacturing complex in Pyeongtaek, South Korea, marking a significant step in deepening the two companies strategic partnership....

NVIDIA Resumes China AI Chip Production Amid $1 Trillion Revenue Forecast

NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang confirmed Tuesday that the company is restarting manufacturing of its H20 chip for the Chinese market, after receiving export licenses from the U.S. government. The announcement came during the GTC...

Amazon's AWS Could Hit $600 Billion in Revenue as AI Reshapes Cloud Growth

Amazon CEO Andy Jassy recently told employees that artificial intelligence could propel Amazon Web Services to $600 billion in annual revenue double the $300 billion target he had previously projected over roughly a...