News
As China mines more coal, levels of more potent greenhouse gas soar
Amid fears of an energy crunch, China is mining more coal than ever and releasing more methane, a greenhouse gas more dangerous than carbon dioxide, into the atmosphere.
Related Knowledge Center: ENERGY BASICS: fossil fuels
State of Play
Fossil fuels — coal, oil and natural gas, primarily — remain the dominant energy sources for much of the world, with their accompanying infrastructure of mines, drilling and production wells, pipelines and various forms of transportation. But they have become more problematic as governments struggle to address climate change and pivot to energy sources that do not result in carbon dioxide emissions.