Millions of Coal Jobs to Vanish Worldwide by 2050: Energy Study
Almost a Million Coal Jobs Could Be Lost by 2050, Report Warns
According to a recent report by Global Energy Monitor (GEM), the coal industry is facing a bleak future, with nearly a million jobs expected to disappear by the middle of this century. The report predicts that by 2035, around 100 coal workers could lose their jobs every day, even without any pro-climate policies in place.
GEM’s report states that ”nearly 1 million coal mine jobs will no longer exist at operating mines” by 2050, resulting in a significant reduction in the global workforce. This estimate takes into account the foreseeable closures of coal mines.
Furthermore, the report highlights that “the coal industry could shed 414,200 mining jobs by 2035—nearly 100 workers per day—regardless of climate pledges or coal phase-out targets.” These job losses would primarily affect mines that are expected to reach the end of their operation by that time.
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9/21/2023The report emphasizes that many of the mines expected to close in the near future are state-owned enterprises with government stakes. Global Energy Monitor researcher states that “governments need to shoulder their share of the burden to ensure a managed transition for those workers and communities as we move into a clean energy economy.”
Even before committing to phase out coal, the ten largest coal producers could collectively cut 243,100 industry jobs by 2050.
Currently, there are nearly 2.7 million workers employed in the coal industry, responsible for 93 percent of the world’s coal production. However, if nations and businesses follow through with plans to phase down coal and limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, only 252,200 workers would be needed to maintain global production.
The majority of job losses are expected to occur in Asia, particularly in China and India. China employs 1.5 million coal workers, while India has 337,400 people employed in the sector.
In the United States, the GEM report estimates that over 15,000 jobs in the coal sector could be lost per decade in the 2030s and 40s, with fewer than 15,000 jobs lost in the 2050s. For the current decade, the report predicts a job loss of less than 15,000.
Some of the coal producers that will be most affected include Coal India, Glencore, Peabody Energy, China Energy, and the Siberian Coal Energy Company.
The report suggests that laid-off coal workers could potentially find employment in the renewable energy sector. However, it acknowledges that the pay in this sector may be lower. For example, in the United States, coal extraction workers earn an average of $62,530 per year, which is 27 percent more than the $48,890 earned by solar photovoltaic installers.
Biden’s Anti-Coal Push
The GEM report coincides with a decline in coal jobs in the United States under the current Biden administration. According to the U.S. Department of Energy’s U.S. Energy & Employment Jobs Report (USEER), coal electric power generation (EPG) was the only technology in which employment declined last year.
In 2022, coal EPG saw a decrease of 9.6 percent, resulting in the loss of 6,780 jobs. Meanwhile, employment in solar and wind energy sectors grew.
President Joe Biden had previously committed to shutting down coal-powered energy plants. He stated, “We’re going to be shutting these plants down all across America and having wind and solar” ahead of the midterms.
These remarks were met with criticism from Senator Joe Manchin, who represents West Virginia, a coal-producing state. He called Biden’s comments “outrageous and divorced from reality.”
In May, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced plans to tighten emission restrictions for coal-fired power plants, which raised concerns about the impact on the coal industry.
In a November 2022 article, Stephen Moore, a senior fellow at the Heritage Foundation, highlighted the importance of coal in America’s history and expressed concerns about moving away from it.
How will the impact of job losses in the coal industry be felt across the globe, and which countries will experience significant reductions in employment opportunities?
This suggests that the impact of job losses in the coal industry will be felt across the globe, with both developed and developing countries experiencing significant reductions in employment opportunities.
The report also raises concerns about the socio-economic consequences of these job losses. Many of the workers employed in the coal industry come from communities that rely heavily on coal mining for their livelihoods. As these jobs disappear, these communities will face economic hardship and struggle to transition to alternative industries. It is therefore crucial for governments and businesses to take responsibility and ensure a managed transition for these workers and communities as we shift towards a clean energy economy.
The report highlights the importance of governments committing to climate pledges and implementing coal phase-out targets. Even without these commitments, the closure of coal mines and the adoption of clean energy alternatives will result in substantial job losses in the sector. However, with the right policies and investments in place, these job losses can be mitigated, and new employment opportunities can be created in renewable energy sectors.
Asia is expected to bear the brunt of these job losses, with China and India being the most affected. These countries currently employ a significant number of coal workers, and as they shift towards cleaner energy sources, thousands of jobs in the coal sector will be at risk. It is essential for these nations to prioritize the well-being of their workers and provide them with support and opportunities for retraining and alternative employment.
In the United States, the report predicts a gradual decline in coal jobs over the coming decades. While the rate of job losses is expected to be relatively low in the 2050s, the coal sector will still experience a significant reduction in employment. This underscores the need for the United States to invest in renewable energy and create a supportive environment for the growth of clean energy industries.
Overall, the report paints a sobering picture of the future of coal jobs. With nearly a million jobs expected to disappear by 2050, it is clear that the coal industry is facing a bleak future. However, this also presents an opportunity to invest in renewable energy and create sustainable employment for the future. By implementing effective policies and providing support for affected workers and communities, countries can navigate the transition away from coal and towards a cleaner and more sustainable energy future.
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