Coal

Coal is found between rocks in the earth, formed from fossilized plants (BBC, n.d.).

Coal is mainly used for providing heat or generating electricity (Environmental and Energy Study Institute, 2014)b. When coal is combusted to generate energy, greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxides are released into the air. As coal reserves are more plentiful than the other fossil fuels, it was recently conceived that industries can continue to use coal as an energy source if carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies are further developed and tested to be safe. CCS technologies involve separating carbon from coal, and storing the collected carbon underground for long-term storage. In this way, greenhouse gases generated from the use of coal would be largely reduced, thereby minimizing the contribution to global warming and climate change.