IEA Expects Global Coal Use to Hit New High
A new report expects that the use of coal globally will increase by more than 1% this year to exceed 8 billion metric tons for the first time ever. The use of coal has a significant impact on the environment, given that burning coal is the most polluting way to produce energy. Burning this fuel leads to the emission of carbon dioxide as well as toxic and carcinogenic substances into the air, land and water. The U.S. Energy Information Administration has listed other emissions from coal combustion, which include sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and particulates. The International Energy Agency (IEA)…