Each of these seven countries is a major consumer of natural gas, and the pro- portion of energy consumption accounted for by natural gas has increased relatively quickly in each case. Of these, four countries are developed countries: the United States, Japan, Germany and the United Kingdom. There are also three emerging countries: Malaysia, Turkey and Egypt.
In 2015, China’s energy consumption will reach 4 billion tons of standard coal. By 2020, non-renewable energy consumption will be controlled at around 4.8 billion tons of standard coal, with total standard coal consumption con- trolled at around 3.0 billion tons, a drop of 62.5% in the proportion of total energy consumption.
Conversion from coal to gas is mainly encountered in Europe, Australia and the United States.
China’s intentions are that CO2 emissions should peak by around 2030 and work should be carried out to try to achieve this peak sooner. Planning outlines include 2030 non-fossil fuel energy sources rising to account for around 20% of primary energy source consumption.
In 2015, China’s energy consumption will reach 4 billion tons of standard coal. By 2020, non-renewable energy consumption will be controlled at around 4.8 billion tons of standard coal, with total standard coal consumption con- trolled at around 3.0 billion tons, a drop of 62.5% in the proportion of total energy consumption.
Conversion from coal to gas is mainly encountered in Europe, Australia and the United States.
China’s intentions are that CO2 emissions should peak by around 2030 and work should be carried out to try to achieve this peak sooner. Planning outlines include 2030 non-fossil fuel energy sources rising to account for around 20% of primary energy source consumption.
The atmosphere has served as a faithful recorder of the transformative consequences to the environment caused by global industrialization and fossil fuel consumption. Of the direct impacts stemming from coal use, the emission of carbon dioxide (CO2) is one of the most significant, as it serves to amplify the planet's natural greenhouse effect. Pre-industrial CO2 levels, determined from analysis of ice cores, are estimated to be around 280 ppmv (parts per million by volume; Etheridge et al., 1996). In the 1950s, fossil fuel emissions became the dominant contributor of anthro- pogenic emissions (Friedlingstein et al., 2019). In 2019, the average CO2 concentration at the Earth's surface was 409.8 ± 0.1 ppm e “higher than at any point in at least the past 800,000 years” (Lindsey, 2020). Further, in addition to releasing CO2, many mines also produce methane (CH4), which is a potent greenhouse gas.
Collectively, the global energy sector contributes more reenhouse gas emissions (73% worldwide) than any other sector (Ge and Friedrick, 2020); however, coal-fired power generation “continues to be the single largest emitter, accounting for 30% of all energy-related carbon dioxide emissions” (IEA, 2019b) and the “single largest source of global temperature increase” (Rice, 2019). Currently, global temperatures are slightly greater than 1 C above pre- industrial levels (WEF, 2020a). To avoid serious impacts caused by climate change, the consensus is that temperature increases should be limited to well below 1.5-2°C.
Direct impacts, many of which we are already experiencing (e.g., Borenstein, 2019; WMO, 2020), include increasingly harsh weather conditions, resulting in floods and storms, heat and cold stress, droughts, melting ice sheets, and UV radiation (BMJ, 2015; WMO, 2020). Ecological disruptions will impact human health through vector-, food-, and water-borne diseases and worsening air quality (BMJ, 2015; Silva et al., 2017). These effects will be compounded by nutrition, health, mental health, violence, conflicts.
Collectively, the global energy sector contributes more reenhouse gas emissions (73% worldwide) than any other sector (Ge and Friedrick, 2020); however, coal-fired power generation “continues to be the single largest emitter, accounting for 30% of all energy-related carbon dioxide emissions” (IEA, 2019b) and the “single largest source of global temperature increase” (Rice, 2019). Currently, global temperatures are slightly greater than 1 C above pre- industrial levels (WEF, 2020a). To avoid serious impacts caused by climate change, the consensus is that temperature increases should be limited to well below 1.5-2°C.
Direct impacts, many of which we are already experiencing (e.g., Borenstein, 2019; WMO, 2020), include increasingly harsh weather conditions, resulting in floods and storms, heat and cold stress, droughts, melting ice sheets, and UV radiation (BMJ, 2015; WMO, 2020). Ecological disruptions will impact human health through vector-, food-, and water-borne diseases and worsening air quality (BMJ, 2015; Silva et al., 2017). These effects will be compounded by nutrition, health, mental health, violence, conflicts.