By — Siddarth Poola

Abstract

Coal is widely seen as harmful to the environment, outdated economically, and problematic politically. Yet, it still dominates energy systems worldwide and nationally. This article looks at why coal remains prevalent through the lenses of political economy, labor dependence, institutional inertia, and informal power structures. Using reports from India’s mining regions, global energy analyses, and environmental critiques, it argues that coal persists not due to a lack of alternatives but because current systems support it. The article also explores how coal economies integrate socially and politically. It concludes that transition is possible but requires significant structural changes rather than mere optimistic statements. 

Introduction

While many would argue that coal is an awful way to generate power, coal seems as though it will never cease. The negative impact on our air quality, the acceleration of climate change, destruction of various ecosystems & overall look of the Victorian Industrial Age have all failed to stop our addiction to coal. Despite these issues, today we continue to dig-up coal using methods that grow more & more innovative. In fact, coal is one of the top forms of electricity generation globally; especially in developing countries, where the need for energy continues to rise. The continued reliance on coal is not simply because of an accident. Rather, it is due to the structure of decision-making regarding energy policy, which places greater emphasis on providing short-term energy reliability than long-term sustainability. For at least twenty years now, both policymakers and journalists have repeatedly asked the same questions about coal’s persistence, i.e., “Why does coal remain?

The less obvious answer is that coal is not just a fuel. It is an ecosystem. It is jobs, infrastructure, political capital, informal economies, and, occasionally, entire parallel systems of governance.

The Economics of Dependence

Coal’s ability to remain a viable option can be largely attributed to how affordable it is. Also, the sheer volume of it, and that it is able to provide reliable base load generation for developing nations; which are also growing at a rate that would make it necessary for them to rely on a source as inexpensive as coal. While many of these countries’ governments recognize they need to move beyond coal, they find themselves unable to do so simply because everything within those nation’s energy systems; labor markets, and infrastructure has developed over time based on coal. As such once there’s  a grid, industry and workforce developed around coal, the challenge becomes one of system-wide reform rather than simple substitution. Due to established interest groups, government subsidization, and incentive for continuation, fossil fuel use remains extremely difficult to relinquish.

In other words coal remains relevant today, not because we don’t know what options exist for alternative sources of energy production, but instead we have a system in place that continues to support coal being used as a cost-effective means of energy production. The relationship of coal to local economics in India is unique. Coal is a key driver for regional economies and provides job opportunities. Additionally, the influence of coal on election outcomes and government decision-making further reinforces the role of coal in supporting Indian economic development. This creates an environment in which coal represents two sides of the same coin. On one hand coal contributes to environmental damage. At the same time coal supports economic activities. Consequently, for India there is little room for the government to pursue a path forward that does not include coal without facing opposition from unemployed workers, potential energy shortages and public outcry.

The Coal Belt: Where Policy Meets Reality (and Loses)

If coal were simply a theoretical or conceptual problem; then perhaps we could say that coal should have already been replaced by now. But unfortunately, coal is alive and well throughout many parts of the world including in areas such as the Dhanbad region of Jharkhand that includes approximately 100 coal mines. Through a web of unofficial, yet powerful networks of fear and control; coal mafias continue to maintain control over coal mining and distribution. This creates a situation where coal economies sustain not only energy production but also social order, however unequal or unstable that order may be. Informal labour markets, local economies, and political networks all depend on continued extraction.

Various reports illustrate how communities are forced to be dependent on coal to keep their lives running despite its risks, because alternatives are either unavailable or underdeveloped. Transitioning in such scenarios goes beyond technical feasibility, It needs a social upheaval. While all of that is happening, environmental and human costs accumulate, like land degradation, displacement, and hazardous working conditions remain mainstay features of coal economies. And these costs are often absorbed locally, while the benefits rarely seep into the local areas. It turns out that when survival is at stake, long-term environmental concerns tend to take a back seat.

Climate Catastrophe, Institutional Inertia, and the Art of Delay

Economics are the reason for coal’s persistence, while climate science explains screams about all the problems in the back. Fossil fuels are the largest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions, driving global warming and all the disastrous consequences that come with it. There are multiple reasons to end coal extraction, including its role in accelerating climate change, harming biodiversity, and disproportionately impacting vulnerable communities. And yet, global coal use continues. So why are we still using coal despite knowing its consequences ? Money is usually always the answer, pointing to economic inertia and policy failures as further foundational reasons. Part of the answer also lies in institutional inertia. Energy systems are slow to change, and infrastructure investments lock countries into long term dependencies. Another part lies in political economy. Fossil fuel industries wield significant influence, shaping policy decisions and delaying regulatory action.

And then there is the human tendency toward delay. Awareness does not necessarily translate into action, especially when the costs of transition are immediate, and the benefits are long-term. This gap between knowledge and action is where coal thrives. We know what needs to be done. We simply keep finding reasons to do it later. Which, historically speaking, has not been a particularly successful strategy.

Conclusion

The point isn’t simply that coal is a source of energy, but that it represents a complex web of interdependent relationships, institutional arrangements and power dynamics extending well beyond the mining itself. Coal exists as a form of dependency (social, economic) within various forms of economy and politics; it has been enabled through the use of political incentives and community dependence. In addition, institutions prioritize maintaining stability rather than promoting structural change and they have constructed narratives about coal as being “essential”, “inevitable” or “temporarily unavoidable”. On the other hand, the negative consequences associated with coal (environmental destruction, climate disruption, and social displacement) are becoming increasingly evident. Therefore, the problem isn’t merely to replace coal with less environmentally destructive options. Rather, the problem lies in changing the very systems that render coal irreplaceable. To do this requires more than new technology. We require both sufficient political will and economic restructuring; and also a collective decision to engage with entrenched interests.

And that’s a fairly high bar to set. However, the fact that we’ll be required to explain to our children why we did know what coal was causing us to continue to use it after all these years may serve as sufficient motivation. 

About the Author:

Siddarth Poola is an undergraduate student doing law in Jindal Global Law School, with a deep interest in Water Sports and a Compunctious regard for Sports Law.

Image Source: https://www.momscleanairforce.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/dirty_coal1.jpg