Pathways to Shrink CO2 Emissions in China's Coal Industry

Abstract

While coal fueling China's economic growth it has already been causing severe pollution and amounts of CO 2 emission. How to make deep reductions in carbon emission is not only a huge challenge for the greatest consumer of coal, but also a revolution for China’s coal industry. The paper explores how to shrink CO 2 emissions during the lifetime of coal. The paper points out that increase of coal mine efficiency and productivity, green mining, utilization of coal mine methane and environment-friendly disposal of coal gangue can reduce CO 2 during coal mining; coal preparation and coal by wire can decrease CO 2 during coal preparation and transportation; improving combustion efficiency, CO 2 capture and storage (CCS) and coal transformation can lessen CO 2 during coal utilization. The paper also points out that Circular Economy Park is a practical way to develop a low carbon economy for coal industry. An econometric model for total coal industry and each sector are constructed to measure carbon emissions based on CO 2 equivalent emissions, then with detailed calculations, based on potential greenhouse-gas emission's reduction, a most likely low carbon roadmap of China's coal industry is depicted with scenario analysis method.