Green mining policies reduce carbon emissions in Chinese coal production bases

Countries worldwide are pursuing efficient and clean energy extraction. In China, coal bases have implemented green mining policies for over a decade, but their environmental impact remains poorly understood. Here we compile raw coal production data and green mining policy records from 14 coal bases between 2004 and 2021 to estimate carbon emissions and quantify policy intensity. We assess the effect of these policies on emissions and find that, following national green mining initiatives, policy intensity increased more than tenfold, coinciding with a substantial reduction or slowdown in carbon emissions from raw coal production. Implementation of these policies is estimated to have reduced total emissions by 43.59 million tons annually. Differences in policy design, enforcement capacity, and technological foundations contribute to variability in emission reductions. These results demonstrate the critical role of policy interventions in guiding coal-dependent regions toward effective climate governance and provide insights for designing more scientifically grounded strategies to achieve cleaner and more efficient energy production. Green mining policies cut coal production emissions by 43.6 million tons annually across China’s coal bases, as shown by interrupted time series analysis linking policy intensity to emission trends from 2004–2021.