Coal’s Other Victim: China’s History – Michael Casey

AP reports on how the abundance of coal is harming China’s historical monuments, including the Giant Buddha in Leshan:

China’s ancient buildings, tombs and stone carvings have weathered storms, invading armies and thieves. Now, they face a new threat, a by-product of the rapid economic development that has lifted so many Chinese out of poverty.

More than 80 percent of China’s 33 U.N.-designated World Heritage sites, including the Leshan Buddha, have been damaged by air pollution and acid rain, mostly from the burning of coal, according to China’s official Xinhua News Agency.

“The level of pollution that China is creating will be devastating to these monuments,” said Melinda Herrold-Menzies, a professor of environmental studies at Pitzer College in Claremont, Calif. [Full text]