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by ethbr1 537 days ago
China has something like 35 years of coal reserves, based on current estimates and assuming mining holds flat.

Given the ~50% of their energy mix that's coal [0], that becomes a fix-it-ASAP problem for their economy.

[0] https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/share-energy-source-sub?c...

1 comments

Heavy dependence on coal has led to severe environmental pollution. As winter approaches and cold fronts sweep down from the north, increased heating needs drive up thermal power generation, releasing more pollutants into the air. During periods of stagnant weather with no wind or rain, smog settles over the sprawling plains, triggering both public health concerns and mounting pressure on the government to address the issue and explore alternative energy sources.