Mark C. Thurber is Associate Director of the Program on Energy and Sustainable Development at Stanford University.

“Coal pushed the industrial era into existence. Today, with global warming, coal is among the biggest threats. Mark Thurber applies his sharp analytical mind, the balance of an historian, and an elegant pen to this vital subject. Everyone will learn something important from this lovely little book.”David Victor, University of California, San Diego“Thurber presents an overview of coal's role in past and present energy systems as well as key factors affecting its future in both developed and developing countries, offering a clear non-polemical analysis of coal's economic, environmental, and energy security attributes.”Howard Gruenspecht, former Deputy Administrator, US Energy Information Administration

• 1 The Double-Edged Sword of Coal Fueling the world with coalCoal’s environmental problemsThe nature of energy resourcesFactors shaping the future of coalConclusionNotes2 The Quest for Energy SecurityCoal: the first source of (nearly) unlimited energyCoal as the OECD’s antidote to oil insecurityChina’s coal-based energy security paradigmCoal and energy security in IndiaCoal and energy security in other developing countriesWill we run out of coal?Critiquing the energy security rationale for coalConclusionNotes3 Tensions along the Coal Value ChainUnderground mining and its risksProductivity improvements in miningThe politics of declining coal sector employmentBenefits and harms to local communitiesCoal transportationCoal power (and pollution)The coal value chain fights backThe coal–power conflictConclusionNotes4 Environmental Politics and PolicymakingIncorporating environmental externalitiesDrivers of environmental policyPublic support for environmental protectionInstitutional capacity and environmental regulation: The cases of China and IndiaEnvironmental groups versus coalInternational finance and international climate politicsThe impact of environmental advocacyConclusionNotes5 Alternatives to CoalCoal vs. nuclearCoal vs. natural gasCoal vs. wind and solarCoal vs. cleaner coalThe challenge of replacing coking coalProgress in coal alternativesConclusionNotes6 Policy, Technology, and the Future of CoalWhy has coal persisted as the “default fuel”?Climate policy and technological changeThe future of coalNotesSelected ReadingsIndex

Mark C. Thurber is Associate Director of the Program on Energy and Sustainable Development at Stanford University.

“Coal pushed the industrial era into existence. Today, with global warming, coal is among the biggest threats. Mark Thurber applies his sharp analytical mind, the balance of an historian, and an elegant pen to this vital subject. Everyone will learn something important from this lovely little book.”David Victor, University of California, San Diego“Thurber presents an overview of coal's role in past and present energy systems as well as key factors affecting its future in both developed and developing countries, offering a clear non-polemical analysis of coal's economic, environmental, and energy security attributes.”Howard Gruenspecht, former Deputy Administrator, US Energy Information Administration

• 1 The Double-Edged Sword of Coal Fueling the world with coalCoal’s environmental problemsThe nature of energy resourcesFactors shaping the future of coalConclusionNotes2 The Quest for Energy SecurityCoal: the first source of (nearly) unlimited energyCoal as the OECD’s antidote to oil insecurityChina’s coal-based energy security paradigmCoal and energy security in IndiaCoal and energy security in other developing countriesWill we run out of coal?Critiquing the energy security rationale for coalConclusionNotes3 Tensions along the Coal Value ChainUnderground mining and its risksProductivity improvements in miningThe politics of declining coal sector employmentBenefits and harms to local communitiesCoal transportationCoal power (and pollution)The coal value chain fights backThe coal–power conflictConclusionNotes4 Environmental Politics and PolicymakingIncorporating environmental externalitiesDrivers of environmental policyPublic support for environmental protectionInstitutional capacity and environmental regulation: The cases of China and IndiaEnvironmental groups versus coalInternational finance and international climate politicsThe impact of environmental advocacyConclusionNotes5 Alternatives to CoalCoal vs. nuclearCoal vs. natural gasCoal vs. wind and solarCoal vs. cleaner coalThe challenge of replacing coking coalProgress in coal alternativesConclusionNotes6 Policy, Technology, and the Future of CoalWhy has coal persisted as the “default fuel”?Climate policy and technological changeThe future of coalNotesSelected ReadingsIndex

Mark C. Thurber is Associate Director of the Program on Energy and Sustainable Development at Stanford University.

“Coal pushed the industrial era into existence. Today, with global warming, coal is among the biggest threats. Mark Thurber applies his sharp analytical mind, the balance of an historian, and an elegant pen to this vital subject. Everyone will learn something important from this lovely little book.”David Victor, University of California, San Diego“Thurber presents an overview of coal's role in past and present energy systems as well as key factors affecting its future in both developed and developing countries, offering a clear non-polemical analysis of coal's economic, environmental, and energy security attributes.”Howard Gruenspecht, former Deputy Administrator, US Energy Information Administration

• 1 The Double-Edged Sword of Coal Fueling the world with coalCoal’s environmental problemsThe nature of energy resourcesFactors shaping the future of coalConclusionNotes2 The Quest for Energy SecurityCoal: the first source of (nearly) unlimited energyCoal as the OECD’s antidote to oil insecurityChina’s coal-based energy security paradigmCoal and energy security in IndiaCoal and energy security in other developing countriesWill we run out of coal?Critiquing the energy security rationale for coalConclusionNotes3 Tensions along the Coal Value ChainUnderground mining and its risksProductivity improvements in miningThe politics of declining coal sector employmentBenefits and harms to local communitiesCoal transportationCoal power (and pollution)The coal value chain fights backThe coal–power conflictConclusionNotes4 Environmental Politics and PolicymakingIncorporating environmental externalitiesDrivers of environmental policyPublic support for environmental protectionInstitutional capacity and environmental regulation: The cases of China and IndiaEnvironmental groups versus coalInternational finance and international climate politicsThe impact of environmental advocacyConclusionNotes5 Alternatives to CoalCoal vs. nuclearCoal vs. natural gasCoal vs. wind and solarCoal vs. cleaner coalThe challenge of replacing coking coalProgress in coal alternativesConclusionNotes6 Policy, Technology, and the Future of CoalWhy has coal persisted as the “default fuel”?Climate policy and technological changeThe future of coalNotesSelected ReadingsIndex