5 things to know about coal trade, global warming

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1. AS U.S. REDUCES COAL USE, DEMAND RISES GLOBALLY. Over the past six years, the U.S. has cut consumption by 195 million tons as power plants have burned cheaper natural gas instead. The Environmental Protection Agency's latest proposal would further cut coal's share of electricity generation. Meanwhile, coal demand is rising globally. In 2013, according to the 2014 BP Statistical Review of World Energy, it grew by 3 percent. The International Energy Agency expects global coal demand to grow 2.3 percent per year through 2018.

2. U.S. COAL EXPORTS HAVE SOARED TO MEET RISING DEMAND. The U.S. exported more coal in 2012 and 2013 than any other year since 1949. Exports surpassed 100 million tons for the first time in more than 20 years in 2011. Exports are down this year because of higher natural gas prices and a colder-than-average winter at home. But the U.S. Energy Information Administration predicts coal exports to grow to 161 million tons by 2040 without policy changes. In 2012, the U.S. comprised 9 percent of the global coal export market, the latest data available.

3. COUNTRIES ONLY ACCOUNT FOR POLLUTION FROM COAL THEY BURN. When measuring progress on global warming, countries count only pollution from burning fossil fuels. Coal exports make the U.S. appear to be making more progress on global warming than it actually is, although it's still coming out ahead. Analyses suggest U.S. exports could be reducing by half or wiping out completely the pollution savings in the U.S. from switching power plants from coal to natural gas.

4. OBAMA ADMINISTRATION WON'T DISCLOSE GLOBAL TOLL OF EXPORTS. Three terminals proposed for the Pacific Northwest would double U.S. coal exports. Despite pleas from the governors of Washington and Oregon, the Obama administration has so far refused to evaluate the global impact of those additional exports. A 2010 White House guidance aimed at clarifying how broadly agencies should evaluate greenhouse gas emissions for major projects is still being reviewed.