Environmental Impacts of Coal Mining in China

This assignment examines the profound environmental impacts of coal mining in China. It delves into soil and water contamination by heavy metals, greenhouse gas emissions contributing to climate change, and the potential for geo-environmental hazards like borehole instability. The analysis considers government policies aimed at mitigating these impacts and explores sustainable development initiatives related to coal mine methane.

Running head: GLOBAL WARMING PREVENTION
Business and Government In Global Context
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author’s Note:

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Introduction
Overpopulation is one of the major problems that are being faced by many countries all
across the world. In other words, the environment is under great threat. This is mainly because of
the increasing stress on the environment. As population is increasing day by day, the energy
needs of the population is naturally increasing. In order to cope up with the ever-increasing
number of people, the natural resources of earth are being utilized a great deal. All the natural
resources of earth like coal, oil, natural gas, petroleum are non renewable in nature. In other
words, these energy resources cannot be produced back once they are used up (Fang et al 2015).
These resources are already present in very limited amount there are also no alternative energy
resources for these. Hence, it is the sole responsibility of all the individuals to use these non
renewable energy resources in a limited and conscious way, so that there is no energy crisis in
the future years. One of the most important energy sources that are needed in the present day
scenario is coal. Among many other countries that have a he usage of coal, China is a significant
one. Coal occupies a very important position in the energy structure of China. There is also a
very intense relation or a connection between the energy structure, the usage of the energy
resources and the environmental protection in the recent years. Coal and the different kinds of
energy resource e that is used from it occupy a very important position in the life of the residents
of China and also within the economy of China as well. The coal resource makes up about 77
percent in the energy production and about 69 percent of the energy consumption (Li et al 2015).
. However, the matter of concern lies in the fact that if the coal is used up at such a rapid
rate, then there remains a very high chance of environmental pollution in the upcoming days.
Hence, researches and investigations are being constantly made in order to see that how can

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china deal with the problem of environmental pollution and consequently with the problem of
global warming, particularly from the consumption of cola. These investigations are mainly
aiming to find out if there exists any interrelation between the coal production, the coal
consumption and the economic growth.
figure1: Coal Production in China
(Source: Google Images)

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The main question
The main question that needs to be dealt with in the present day scenario is given the
complex and difficult problems posed by global warming, what is the appropriate response to
climate change by government and business?
Figure2: Amount of harmful gases emitted by China’s coal mining activity

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(source: Google Emissions)
Usage of coal in CHINA
Earlier studies were mainly being aimed at finding out the different causes related to coal
production; coal mining that gives rise to pollution. However it is confirmed from the studies that
both coal mining and the utilization of coal brings about ecological disturbances, thus disrupting
the general ecological balance. The other forms of threat that are associated with the coal mining
activities are the threats of accidents, damage to the surrounding water bodies because of the
waste disposal. Air pollution is also one of the major threats associated with the activity of coal
mining. A huge amount of harmful gases like carbon dioxide and methane is also released into
the atmosphere (Li et al 2015).
Harmful effects of coal mining activities
It is due to these harmful emissions into the atmosphere that is gradually leading to other
major problems like erosion of soil and water. The effects were so much harmful and
tremendous, that according to the data of the different researches conducted, the amount of waste
water discharged into the surrounding bodies reached uncontrollable heights (Cao 2017). The
total amount of industrial waste water that was discharged was about 21,185.85 million tons in
2010 and has been ever increasing since then. This indeed is an issue of major concern, because
this pollutes water can cause a major harm to the flora and fauna existing around it. (Cao 2017).

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Apart from this, it can also cause major harm to the human population, who might use this water
for different household purposes.
Water pollution
The large scale water pollution in China water pollution that has been brought about by
the coal mining and the coal consumption activities has brought about a huge disturbance in the
economy and the society of China as well. It has also been inferred from the thorough
investigations that there are mainly three different kinds of wastes that are generated from the
vigorous coal mining and coal consumption activities. These wastes are waste water, waste gas
and waste residue. There are mainly two sources from which the waste water on the coal mining
area is released. This not only creates large scale water pollution but also decreases the water
level. Apart from this, many mining areas are also suffering from the lack of proper water supply
(Cai et al 2014).
Water shortage
There is also the problem of water shortage. There are many mines that are situated in
and around the coal mining areas. As a majority amount of water is often used up to the mining
activities, there hardly remains any for being used by the residents fie their household uses.
Apart from this shortage of fresh and clean consumable water, those residents are also suffering
from the problem of water pollution (Zhang et al 2016).
Air pollution
The other kind of waste that is emitted from the coal mining areas is the methane gas and
the coal gauge release. Apart from these, there is also the emission of industrial soot, dust, dirt,

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smog, harmful gases like sulphur dioxide and several other such harmful materials. The other
kind of waste is that of waste residues (Cai et al 2014).
figure3: Air pollution caused by coal mining activity in China
(Source: Google Images)

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.
Figure4: Statistical representation of carbon emission from coal combustion in China
Source :( c2es.org.2014)
Soil
All these harmful chemicals and the heavy toxic metals that are discharged from the coal
mining activity areas are often dumped into the soil. As a result of which the productive qualities
of the soil is lost. This turns out to be a nightmare for all the farmers (Zhang et al 2016). Due to
this indiscriminate dumping of all the poisonous and the heavy metals from the coal mining
activities, on the soil, the soil gradually gets devoid of its self purification capacity. As a result of
which the land is rendered totally infertile for any kind of cultural yields. As a result of this, the
farmers suffer a great deal and hence demand for compensation. The demand is totally justified
and cannot be ignored under any means (Zhang et al 2016).

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. The farmers have to be given the reclamation fee of their cultivable lands. They also are
to be given the compensation fee for their land destruction. This compensation is usually given
by the Government and by the coal enterprises together. It was also seen that the in particular,
the provinces or the remote regions (Drahos and Braithwaite 2001). All these harmful emissions
from the coal mining activities have led to a gradual change in the climatic condition of China.
Another harmful impact of this coal mining activity in China is that of the house evacuation. In
other words, it is often seen that many of the companies are just being concerned about
expanding their business (Zhang et al 2016). Apart from this, there is also a constant pressure on
the companies to meet with the energy demands of the ever increasing number of people. As a
result of this, the coal companies often have to increase and enlarge their area of operation. As a
result of this, they often have t make a majority of people vacate their houses and their lands and
shift elsewhere (Fei et al 2015). This creates a great dissatisfaction and pain among the people.
This is because, they are suddenly and often forcefully, made to leave their houses and their
lands without having any proper place of shelter. Apart from this, there is also a large scale
deforestation that often harms the flora and the fauna. These coal mines often are very quick and
rough while digging up into the deeper layers of soil. Strip mining is also one of the major causes
of the large scale environmental pollution. These coal mining activities have created a major
problem in several countries like China, Australia, South Africa and many others. Among them,
the environment of china is under a great threat. Another great mishap that takes place because
of this indiscriminate coal mining activities is that of coal fires. As China has a major demand for
coal in its energy structure, it must take all the necessary means to see that there is no such
accidents taking place in and around the mining activity areas. China must be extra concerned
about this fact because it has the largest amount of coal fires in the world. Each year about

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twenty to two hundred million tons of coal burn. This is responsible for the national cost
consumption and related carbon dioxide emissions of China (Drahos and Braithwaite 2001). .
Government policies implemented
 As a result of this increasing environmental pollution, the Government of China had to
take some serious steps. Over the years, humans have been largely relying upon the
resources, economy and the environment (Li et al 2015). All these activities have resulted
into a large scale climatic change that in turn increases the chances of global warming. It
is due to the coal mining activities that harmful gases are being emitted into the soil, air
and water. On the other hand there is also the large scale deforestation that is taking
place. As a result of which the amount of carbon dioxide increases within the atmosphere.
This in turn leads to global warming. Increased temperatures over the past few years have
been the proof of this. Hence the Government of china has implemented some policies in
order to check and control this coal mining activities.
 The coal industry must know how to keep a moderate speed in its rate of development. It
has also been seen that a large number of Chinese provinces are still under the poverty
line. In order to help uplift their condition threat of growth of the economy must be kept
moderate and the coal mining activities are also essential at the same time. This is
because a large amount of the population is, particularly the remote and the poor ones
employed as workers in the coal mines (Li et al 2015).
 Investments must be made in technological advances so as to prevent the large scale
environmental damage. The Government of china also has to pay a huge amount of
money as compensation to the farmers as there is a large scale damage of their farmlands.

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Hence, it is urgent on part of china to find out and implement means that would prevent
the harmful emissions into the atmosphere.
 China can also switch over to the usage of clean coal technology like that of clean stoves
in order to save the coal resources and protect the environment from getting polluted.
 Imposition of environmental taxation can also prove to be a major means of controlling
the environmental pollution (Cao et al 2016).
Conclusion
Thereby, it can be concluded that it is really a high time that china must start taking steps in
order to deal with this problem of environmental pollution. As china has the largest amount of
coal burns, it must be extra careful towards the accidents that can otherwise be caused by the
burning of the coal fires Apart from this, if the coal mining activities keep on increasing at such a
rapid rate, it would affect the natural flora and fauna a great deal. There is also a large scale
deforestation that is being carried out for the expansion of the mining areas. This not only is
damaging the plants and the animals but also the local residents of china are facing a huge
amount of problem. They are being removed from their houses, they are being subjected to a
large number of air and water borne diseases. This is because, the coal mining wastes are often
disposed into the nearby water and land without being properly treated. Hence, the government
of china must take various steps in order to deal with this problem. The Government must also
make sure that if any kind of damage is being caused to the farmlands, then the farmers are
compensated thoroughly. Apart from this, the Government of China can also start using the
green campaign in order to use the resource in a better and controlled amount, and thus check the
pollution and the climatic changes as well.

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