Green Daily

China's state electricity regulatory agency has said that most coal-fired power plants around China have only 12 days worth of coal supply, and some are down to less than a week. The shortage comes in spite of the fact that coal production is up 15% from the same period last year.

China's booming economy relies on coal-fired plants for about 80% of its electricity, so a potential shortfall - especially in the run-up to the Beijing Olympics this summer - could be disastrous, resulting in blackouts, brownouts and serious economic damage.

Coal power in general is anethema to environmentalists because it's incredibly dirty, and not in a good way. However, with the US in recession. and the world suffering energy and food prices shocks on a scale not seen for decades, an unanticipated slowdown in the world's second largest economy could wreak new havoc around the globe.

WIth any luck, the ongoing energy crisis will push the Chinese government into a more serious investment in renewable energy sources. However, in the short term, authorities have made it clear that economic growth, however powered, will take precedence over fighting CO2 emissions.