Beyond the Coal Rush

Climate change makes fossil fuels unburnable, but how can the world stop mining coal - the worst source of greenhouse gas emissions?

Climate change makes fossil fuels unburnable, yet global coal production has almost doubled over the last 20 years. This book explores reasons for continuing coal dependence, and this can be overcome. Documenting efforts to halt mining in India, Germany, and Australia, it provides inspiration for energy transition for researchers and policymakers.Climate change makes fossil fuels unburnable, yet global coal production has almost doubled over the last 20 years. This book explores how the world can stop mining coal - the most prolific source of greenhouse gas emissions. It documents efforts at halting coal production, focusing specifically on how campaigners are trying to stop coal mining in India, Germany, and Australia. Through in-depth comparative ethnography, it shows how local people are fighting to save their homes, livelihoods, and environments, creating new constituencies and alliances for the transition from fossil fuels. The book relates these struggles to conflicts between global climate policy and the national coal-industrial complex. With coal's meaning transformed from an important asset to a threat, and the coal industry declining, it charts reasons for continuing coal dependence, and how this can be overcome. It will provide a source of inspiration for energy transition for researchers in environment, sustainability, and politics, as well as policymakers.