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In 1999, North America's coal production volume came to 25.28 exajoules. By 2024, it decreased to 11.88 exajoules. 

North America's role in global coal energy

Coal production has decreased in North America in recent years. In 2000, the continent as a whole produced 24.65 exajoules of coal and had reduced production some 53 percent by 2024. However, globally, there has been a significant increase in coal production, from 96.5 exajoules in 2000 to 182.23 exajoules in 2024. This global increase is largely due to the coal production and energy consumption in China. The country accounts for almost half of both the world’s production and consumption of this fossil fuel. China’s coal production has more than doubled, from 29.6 exajoules in 2000 to 94.48 exajoules in 2024. 

North American coal consumption and environmental backlash

The consumption of coal in the United States decreased to 7.89 quadrillion British thermal units (Btu) in 2024. The United States consumed almost 18 quadrillion Btu of coal in 2014 and 2.47 quadrillion Btu from conventional hydroelectric energy. Coal companies face competition from the growing renewable energy industries and increasing demands for cleaner energy from consumers. In Canada, the province of Ontario had shut down all of its coal-generated plants as of April 2014, the first jurisdiction in North America to do so.