China is currently the largest consumer of coal , incinerate around50 percent of all demandfor the black rock dug up from the Earth . So it is little wonder that one of the many arguments against natural process on climate change is why bother when China continues to burn so much . But it seems that those days are numbered , asa new report has foundthat China has go by peak coal consumption .
It has been thought for a while that this might be the pillowcase , but as it ’s almost too skilful to be true , expert have been cautious of lauding this impressive milestone , just in case the data was a blip . But a new study inNature Geosciencesuggests that the pearl in ember consumption is not just a one - off , but a continuing movement . " I opine it is a real turn point , " Lord Nicholas Stern , clime economic expert at the London School of Economics and cobalt - author of the psychoanalysis , toldThe Guardian .
Even though between 2000 and 2013 , the consumption in China stand up from 1.23 billion metric ton ( 1.36 billion tons ) to a astounding 3.85 billion metric ton ( 4.24 billion net ton ) , since then its consumption has started to fall at an ever - increasing rate . In 2014 , it dismiss by 2.9 percent , follow the next year by a drop-off of 3.6 percent . This has been matched by a significant fall in its production , as mining for it has fallen by close to 10 percent in just the first half of 2016 .
Thought to be a contribute factor is a major shift within the thriftiness . development has begin to fall , from between 9 and 10 percent to or so 6 percent , something that is expected to continue . This , as a result , mean that less and less coal will be fire . This is also tied in with a modification in China ’s thriftiness away from manufacturing and industry , and more towards technology and serving sectors .
Another major impact on the burning of coal is due to the horrendous levels of air pollution thathave blight many of the commonwealth ’s large citiesin recent years . " Red alarm " were issued in 10 metropolis earlier this year as risky smog blanketed much of north - due east China , with officials warning the great unwashed to stay indoors , stop schoolhouse family , and reduce the use of their vehicles . This has led to the issuing of air pollution , in a large part contributed by ember , moving center and ahead .
Many now hope that this could be the showtime of the end for ember , which almost all expert agree needs to be phase out fast if the Paris climate agreement is to be meet .
