The Human Cost of Coal Mining in China | Xiaojun "Tom" Wang | TED

Shanxi Province, China’s "eldest coal brother," faces a devastating environmental and cultural crisis as intensive mining hollows out the land, causing landslides and the forced relocation of ancestral graveyards. Environmental activist Xiaojun Wang highlights the human cost of this "coal addiction," noting that one in 30 residents works in the mines, including his own cousin who died from industry-related injuries. Despite China’s national commitments to carbon neutrality by 2060, the central government continues to demand increased production from Shanxi to fuel 24 other provinces. This reliance threatens the region's true treasures: a dense cluster of thousand-year-old wooden temples and ancient tombs older than the Terracotta Warriors. Breaking this cycle requires a "sibling coordination mechanism" where wealthier provinces provide financial and technical support to help Shanxi transition toward a clean economy, preserving its rich agricultural and historical heritage for future generations.