A giant coal mine near the Qilian mountains on the northwest edge of the Tibetan plateau is illegally encroaching on a nature reserve at the source of the Yellow River,according to a Greenpeace investigation.
“This huge coal mine dug into the birthplace of China’s mother river is arguably the most shocking example of the threat coal poses to the country’s water supply,” says Greenpeace East Asia climate and energy campaigner Li Shuo.
“China’s growing hunger for coal is not only fuelling the cycle of air pollution crises plaguing the country’s largest cities, it’s also using up enormous amounts of water, threatening whole regions with water shortages and desertification.
“The Beijing authorities have shown a strong determination in tackling the smog emergency triggered by coal fumes – now they need to display the same resolve in protecting the country’s water reserves from this destructive industry.”