Photos by Michael Yamashita yamashitaphoto / Shanxi Province coal mine. With 950-plus mines, the province in northern China is the second largest coal-producing region in the country, second only to Inner Mongolia. China itself is the world's largest consumer of coal, with just over half of the world's consumption. Such dependence on coal has also meant serious pollution and environmental challenges. But President Xi Jinping announced that China would be carbon neutral by 2060. To reach this ambitious goal, smaller mines are being shut down and others are being consolidated into fewer but larger power companies, all with an eye to help shift the nation to the use of wind- and solar-powered electricity. China’s new climate pledges represent an exciting morale boost at a time when the impacts of climate change have never been clearer. Now the world is watching to see how the country will turn these pledges into action. #coalmining #coalmine #shanxiprovince