A dataset on the co-benefits of de-capacity in China

China is the world’s largest carbon emitter and coal de-capacity is a policy with immediate and substantial CO₂ reduction effects. However, the carbon emission reduction and health co-benefits arising from the coal de-capacity are often ignored. Here, we assessed the carbon emission reductions and quantified the health co-benefits from coal de-capacity based on an analysis of the spatial and temporal distribution characteristics of the mine closures and phase out during 2016–2022. Our findings show that China had closed/phased out a total of 4027 mines with a total de-capacity of 8.75 × 10⁸ t, spatially concentrated in Southwest and North China from 2016 to 2022. The coal life cycle emitted 1859 million t of carbon during the coal de-capacity. Importantly, 11,775 premature deaths were avoided during 2016–2022 due to reduced PM_2.5 exposure as a result of coal mining. This study highlights the significant effects of coal de-capacity on carbon reduction and health co-benefits in China and provides scientific evidence and data to support the achievement of the sustainable development goals and the ‘dual carbon goals’.

中国是全球最大的碳排放体，煤炭产能退出政策具有立竿见影且显著的二氧化碳（CO₂）减排效果。然而，煤炭产能退出所带来的碳排放削减与健康协同效益，却常被忽视。本研究基于2016-2022年煤矿关闭与产能退出的时空分布特征分析，评估了煤炭产能退出带来的碳排放削减量，并量化了其健康协同效益。研究结果显示，2016-2022年全国累计关闭/退出煤矿4027处，总产能退出规模达8.75×10⁸吨，空间上集中于华北与西南地区。在此轮煤炭产能退出期间，煤炭全生命周期累计碳排放达1859百万吨。尤为重要的是，2016-2022年间，因煤炭开采导致的细颗粒物（PM₂.₅）暴露水平降低，累计避免了11775例过早死亡病例。本研究凸显了中国煤炭产能退出在碳排放削减与健康协同效益方面的显著作用，并为实现可持续发展目标与‘双碳目标’提供了科学依据与数据支撑。