Concern over climate change has reached epic proportions around the globe, and the United States coal industry finds itself at center stage. Behind China, the U.S. is the largest coal user in the world today, and coal is the single largest source of greenhouse gas emissions on the planet. And although U.S. coal miners aren't on the front lines in the war between climate change activists and Big Coal, they are an often un-considered population of people who will be affected by the outcome of the debate. This photo essay explores the lives of modern day coal miners in eastern Ohio, and how global concern over climate change, with the inevitable changes that must occur in the energy industry, will impact their lives and livelihood.
Concern over climate change has reached epic proportions around the globe, and the United States coal industry finds itself at center stage. Behind China, the U.S. is the largest coal user in the world today, and coal is the single largest source of greenhouse gas emissions on the planet. And although U.S. coal miners aren't on the front lines in the war between climate change activists and Big Coal, they are an often un-considered population of people who will be affected by the outcome of the debate.
This photo essay explores the lives of modern day coal miners in eastern Ohio, and how global concern over climate change, with the inevitable changes that must occur in the energy industry, will impact their lives and livelihood.