How much Coal is left in the world? When will Coal run out?
Coal is one of the most abundant fossil fuels that are left, and hundreds of years supply may be available. Nobody is certain but estimates range from 250 years to 350 years. It is difficult to say however because nobody knows how much we will rely on coal in the future once other fossil fuels run out. Also, it is difficult to predict the future usage of emerging nations. China already uses more coal than any nation by a long way, at a staggering 2.3 billion tonnes a year.
How much Coal is Left?
The biggest problems is that when coal, especially lignite or brown coal, is burnt it is the worst and most harmful fossil fuel to our environment, giving off huge amounts of CO2 and other toxic greenhouse gases that cause climate change and pollute the air. Alternatives to using coal must therefore be found to limit and stop the harm to our environment and stop climate change. The use of coal is expected to increase as much as 60% in the next 25 years as other fossil fuel stocks dwindle. In order to limit this growth it is essential that renewable energy technologies are explored and developed in order to limit the damage to the atmosphere. Coal however, as harmful to the environment as it is now may in the future become an energy source that is clean if technologies like Carbon Capture and Storage can be developed. Doing this would allow the burning of coal without causing great damage to our atmosphere leading to global warming and climate change.
To view how much othe fossile fuels are left in the world, check out the article ‘How much Fossil Fuels are left in the World?’
