US shale gas drives up coal exports
Monday, October 29, 2012 - 09:20
in Earth & Climate
The US is burning less coal due to shale gas production, however millions of tons of unused coal are being exported to the UK, Europe and Asia. As a result, the emissions benefits of switching fuels are overstated. US CO2 emissions from domestic energy have declined by 8.6% since a peak in 2005, the equivalent of 1.4% per year. However, the researchers warn that more than half of the recent emissions reductions in the power sector may be displaced overseas by the trade in coal.