Clean Air

The United States was one of the first countries to take measures to improve urban air quality. Pollution caused by the burning of coal in power stations caused a switch to less-polluting oil. In New York City, a smog crisis over the Thanksgiving Holiday in 1966 led to severe restrictions on coal burning and by the end of 1967 the utility serving the city had completed its switch to oil. Steps were also taken to clean up rivers, lakes and improve sewage systems.

This approach was mirrored throughout the developed world. As an example, the chart below shows that coal consumption in Europe has fallen dramatically since the mid-1960s as both domestic and industrial usage has fallen. Where there has been substitution, oil and latterly natural gas have taken coal's place.


Source: Energy Intelligence 

However Europe's performance has not been matched in other regions that are at a different stage in their economic development. The next chart shows that in the period to 2020 large amounts of coal-fired electricity generating capacity will be added. Most of this is in developing countries such as China and India. This significant growth in coal use - over 160% expected in India during the first twenty years of this century and nearly 80% in China over the same period - threatens the global aim of reducing emissions of greenhouse gases as per the Kyoto Protocol.



Source: Energy Intelligence