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Coal workers waiting for a job in downtown Taiyuan.
Coal workers waiting for a job in downtown Taiyuan.
Coal mine accident in Shanxi Province.
Coal mine accident in Shanxi Province.
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Living in Shanxi Province is living in industrial landscapes.
Living in Shanxi Province is living in industrial landscapes.
Of China's ten most polluted cities, four are in Shanxi Province. The coal-mining operations have damaged waterways and scarred the land.
Of China's ten most polluted cities, four are in Shanxi Province. The coal-mining operations have damaged waterways and scarred the land.
China's mines are among the most dangerous in the world - more than 5000 deaths are reported every year in fires, floods and explosions.
China's mines are among the most dangerous in the world - more than 5000 deaths are reported every year in fires, floods and explosions.
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Coal accounts for 70 percent of the country's energy production, according to government statistics.
Coal accounts for 70 percent of the country's energy production, according to government statistics.
A mine accident survivor in the hospital. China produced 35 percent of the worldÕs coal in 2008, but reported 80 percent of the total deaths in coal mine accidents.
A mine accident survivor in the hospital. China produced 35 percent of the worldÕs coal in 2008, but reported 80 percent of the total deaths in coal mine accidents.
Late night high rise in downtown Jiexiu.
Late night high rise in downtown Jiexiu.
CO2 emissions from China are increasing faster than from any other country in the world.
CO2 emissions from China are increasing faster than from any other country in the world.
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Coal mining has become the most deadly job in China. The death rate for every 100 tons of coal is 100 times of that of the US.
Coal mining has become the most deadly job in China. The death rate for every 100 tons of coal is 100 times of that of the US.
China must make some difficult choices. So far, the nation has been making decisions that it hopes will lessen the health-damaging impact on its own country while sustaining economic growth as cheaply as possible.
China must make some difficult choices. So far, the nation has been making decisions that it hopes will lessen the health-damaging impact on its own country while sustaining economic growth as cheaply as possible.
China contributes one-sixth of the worldÕs sulfur pollution. Together with the emissions from various other countries, those from China seem to offset more than one-third of the warming effect from manmade carbon dioxide already in the atmosphere, according to several climate models.
China contributes one-sixth of the worldÕs sulfur pollution. Together with the emissions from various other countries, those from China seem to offset more than one-third of the warming effect from manmade carbon dioxide already in the atmosphere, according to several climate models.
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China is building two large power stations every week.
China is building two large power stations every week.
Bar on the Taiyuan-Linfen Highway.
Bar on the Taiyuan-Linfen Highway.
Coal Industry analysts say as many as 90 percent of small coal mines should be closed for safety reasons.
Coal Industry analysts say as many as 90 percent of small coal mines should be closed for safety reasons.
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Public health is reeling. Pollution has made cancer China's leading cause of death, the Ministry of Health says.
Public health is reeling. Pollution has made cancer China's leading cause of death, the Ministry of Health says.
The Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency says China's CO2 emissions had risen by 9% in 2008, compared with 1.4% in the US.
The Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency says China's CO2 emissions had risen by 9% in 2008, compared with 1.4% in the US.
China is choking on its own success. The economy is on a historic run, posting a succession of double-digit growth rates. But the growth derives, now more than at any time in the recent past, from a staggering expansion of heavy industry and urbanization that requires colossal inputs of energy, almost all from coal, the most readily available, and dirtiest, source.
China is choking on its own success. The economy is on a historic run, posting a succession of double-digit growth rates. But the growth derives, now more than at any time in the recent past, from a staggering expansion of heavy industry and urbanization that requires colossal inputs of energy, almost all from coal, the most readily available, and dirtiest, source.
China's population of 1.3 billion is about four times larger than that of the US, but each Chinese citizen uses about 25% of the energy consumed by his or her US counterpart.
China's population of 1.3 billion is about four times larger than that of the US, but each Chinese citizen uses about 25% of the energy consumed by his or her US counterpart.
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A closed down restaurant on the Taiyuan-Linfen Highway.
A closed down restaurant on the Taiyuan-Linfen Highway.

Christian Als of Copenhagen, Denmark

china loves coal

Christian Als was born in the countryside outside Copenhagen. Most of his work centers on what he calls “concerned photography” -social, political and economic issues throughout the world.

Christian graduated from the Danish School of Journalism, and did various stints during and after his graduation (in 2006) as a freelance photojournalist until eventually being hired by Berlingske Tidende (where he still works today).


Christian’s work has been published in an impressive list of international publications too numerous to list here, and he has won a mind-boggling number of awards which are likewise too numerous to list. The China Loves Coal series won a Best of Photojournalism award from the NPPA in 2009 in the Environmental Picture Story category.