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USA: The Only Major Economy with a Sharp Increase in Coal Consumption in 2025
🇬🇷 Greece /Economy & Trade

USA: The Only Major Economy with a Sharp Increase in Coal Consumption in 2025

From Ta Nea · () Greek

Translated from Greek, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • The US is the only major economy to significantly increase its coal consumption in 2025, despite a global trend towards reducing its use.
  • Globally, coal-fired power generation decreased by 0.6% in 2025, while new coal plant capacity increased by 3.5%, largely driven by China and India.
  • While China and India are increasing capacity, they are also expanding renewable energy sources, whereas the US stands out for its increased reliance on coal for power generation.

In a global landscape increasingly focused on transitioning away from fossil fuels, the United States stands out as a stark anomaly. While nations worldwide are scaling back their reliance on coal—a primary driver of greenhouse gas emissions—the US has bucked this trend, significantly increasing its consumption of the polluting fuel in 2025. This divergence from the global effort to combat climate change raises serious questions about energy policy and environmental commitments.

Coal is among the fuels with the largest emissions of gases that cause the greenhouse effect and global warming, and its progressive abandonment is considered key in the fight to slow down climate change.

— N/AGeneral statement about the environmental impact of coal, framing the global context of the article.

According to a report by Global Energy Monitor, global coal-fired power generation saw a slight decrease of 0.6% in 2025. However, the development of new coal power capacity actually rose by 3.5%, with China and India accounting for 95% of this expansion. These two Asian giants are navigating a complex energy transition, balancing growing electricity demand with climate goals. China, for instance, increased its coal capacity by 6% but saw a 1.2% decrease in consumption, partly due to a surge in renewable energy. India, similarly, increased capacity by nearly 4% while consumption rose by 3%, heavily reliant on coal due to infrastructure limitations despite reaching 50% non-fossil fuel capacity.

China ranks first in CO2 emissions globally, while India ranks third, behind the US.

— N/AContextual information about the major global emitters, highlighting the significance of US and Indian energy policies.

The US's increased coal consumption is particularly concerning given its status as a major global economy and emitter. While China and India are investing heavily in renewables and attempting to manage their coal use, the US appears to be moving in the opposite direction. This decision runs counter to international climate agreements and scientific consensus on the urgent need to phase out coal. The report highlights that China and India view coal as a reliable backup for intermittent renewables, but the US's increased consumption suggests a different set of priorities, potentially driven by domestic energy market dynamics or a less aggressive approach to climate mitigation compared to its global peers.

Beijing considers coal a last-resort solution, yet reliable compared to the more intermittent supply from renewables, especially after shortages observed a few years ago.

— N/AExplaining China's perspective on coal's role in its energy mix.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Ta Nea in Greek. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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