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Climate change means that China needs to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from its transport sector. The study reported in the paper analysed the spatial–temporal characteristics of carbon doxide emissions produced by transporting coal by rail in the country between 2000 and 2014. The kriging interpolation method was used to analyse the emission distributions. The results showed that total emissions produced from rail transport of coal increased from 1·18 Mt in 2000 to 11·71 Mt in 2014, although they appear to have peaked. Inner Mongolia, Shanxi and Shaanxi were the provinces with the largest emission increases. The emissions were positively correlated and showed spatial heterogeneity, with Shanxi and Shaanxi provinces being high-emission provinces surrounded by other high-emission provinces. The paper concludes with a discussion of energy conservation and emissions-reduction measures that could be implemented by the Chinese transport industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China is the largest coal producer and the largest coal consuming country in the world. Approximately half of China's coal comes from small-scale mines. The sustainability of China's coal industry would be improved if a greater share of the coal come from larger-scale mines. This article presents a case history of the Shuangliu Mine in Shanxi Province and discusses the issues and benefits of the transformation of this mine. Significant gains were observed in worker safety and benefits, and in more efficient exploitation of the coal resource. Problems included loss of employment opportunities for local labourers, and reduced revenue for local townships. The wider implications of a shift of China's coal supply from small-scale to large-scale mining operations are discussed in relation to economic, social and environmental aspects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]