Europe aims to say goodbye to the most polluting fossil fuel - coal. What until recently was considered a cheap power has come at a high cost for the planet and people's health. In 2020, the EU production of hard coal was 80% less than in 1990, according to the European Commission.
However, Russia's invasion of Ukraine, along with the earlier shortage of natural gas and the increase in electricity consumption after lifting the pandemic restrictions, have increased the demand for coal. According to the International Energy Agency, in 2021, the world already generated more electricity from coal than ever before (an increase of 9% compared to 2020), even before the war started.
We have travelled across coal mining regions in five European countries, aiming to learn from their experiences of phasing out coal mines.
In some regions, where the coal mine was the dominant employer, being a miner has been a way of life that has been inherited from grandparents to children. Some of the first questions in the coal-dependent regions are: how will coal jobs be replaced, and what will be the alternative to generate energy and economic activity? We have met miners and their families, local governments and union representatives to discuss the opportunities and challenges ahead in the coal farewell in Europe.
Go underground and learn about opportunities and challenges in mining regions in five European countries: Poland, the United Kingdom, Spain, Germany and Ukraine.
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