Human activity drives climate change; nations must cut emissions drastically to avoid worst scenarios, despite coal’s health risks.
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Human activity is responsible for climate change, as greenhouse gas concentrations significantly exceed levels from the last 800,000 years; historically, such changes took millennia. Fossil fuels are the main source of carbon dioxide emissions. To meet Paris Agreement goals, 90% of global coal and about 60% of oil must remain underground. To avoid worst-case climate scenarios, greenhouse gas emissions must be reduced by at least 45% by 2030 and reach zero by 2050. The issue is global. Inuit are among the most exposed populations globally due to their diet of marine life, with newborns and infants fed breast milk being particularly affected by mercury poisoning. In Europe, the energy sector still accounts for 42% of global greenhouse gas emissions. The UK notably phased out coal power in 2024, achieving this rapidly despite its industrial history. Poland has historically emphasized its coal reserves, but recent changes have introduced distance criteria for wind farms. Currently, about 70% of Polish electricity comes from coal, and since 2025, public support for coal will cease, making it unprofitable for producers. Coal-based energy generation in Poland should end by late 2035. Czechia plans to phase out coal by 2033 and install solar panels on 100,000 roofs by 2025, though climate change awareness is low there, and industry lobbyists oppose climate policies. In Bulgaria, coal plants will operate under market conditions until 2035, with renewable energy causing a significant drop in coal-generated electricity last year. Furthermore, brown coal is a source of volatile mercury, a toxin linked to severe neurological and organ damage, which experts note is released through its burning despite regulations on other sources of mercury.
