"In the first decade of the twentieth century, the world witnessed tremendous upheaval in global energy markets. Oil markets were roiled by war and uprisings in the Middle East while economic expansion helped to push prices to near record (real) highs. Natural gas production in the United States...

The double-edged sword of coal -- The quest for energy security -- Tensions along the coal value chain -- Environmental politics and policymaking -- Alternatives to coal -- Policy, technology, and the future of coal

In 2009 the global coal market witnessed one of the most dramatic realignments it has ever seen – China, long a net exporter of coal, suddenly imported a record-smashing 126 Mt tons (103 Mt net). This inversion of China's role in global coal markets meant that Chinese imports accounted for...

The capture and permanent storage of CO2 emissions from coal combustion is now widely viewed as imperative for stabilization of the global climate. Coal is the world’s fastest growing fossil fuel. This trend presents a forceful case for the development and wide dissemination of technologies...