In a recent study, the global coal industry is projected to shed nearly one million jobs by 2050, even without further commitments to phase out fossil fuels. This sobering revelation comes as hundreds of labor-intensive coal mines worldwide are expected to close in the coming decades due to the end of their operational lifespans and the growing shift towards cleaner, low-carbon energy sources.
However, what sets this impending wave of closures apart is that most of these mines have no concrete plans in place to extend their operational life or manage the transition towards a post-coal economy. This unsettling prospect was highlighted by the U.S.-based think tank Global Energy Monitor (GEM) in their recent research.
Dorothy Mei, the project manager for GEM’s Global Coal Mine Tracker, stressed the urgency for governments to take proactive measures to safeguard the well-being of workers during this energy transition. She emphasized, “Coal mine closures are inevitable, but economic hardship and social strife for workers are not.”
GEM conducted an extensive analysis of 4,300 active and proposed coal mine projects across the globe, covering a combined workforce of nearly 2.7 million individuals. Their findings revealed that more than 400,000 workers are currently employed in mines slated for closure before 2035.
To limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) and phase down coal, GEM estimated that only 250,000 miners—less than 10% of the current workforce—would be required worldwide.
China, home to the world’s largest coal industry, currently employs over 1.5 million people in this sector alone, as estimated by GEM. Of the anticipated one million job losses worldwide by 2050, more than 240,000 are expected in China’s Shanxi province.
China’s coal industry has already experienced multiple rounds of restructuring in recent decades, with many mining districts in the northern and northeastern regions struggling to find alternative sources of growth and employment following pit closures.
Ryan Driskell Tate, GEM’s program director for coal, emphasized the importance of proactive planning for workers and coal-dependent communities, stating, “What we need is proactive planning for workers and coal communities… so industry and governments will remain accountable to those workers who have borne the brunt for so long.”
The research findings underscore the critical need for governments and industry stakeholders to collaborate on comprehensive strategies that not only address the environmental concerns surrounding coal but also prioritize the well-being and livelihoods of the workers affected by this inevitable transition.
