Germany, Poland, and Serbia remain the "black lungs" of Europe, heavily reliant on burning brown coal—the most polluting and inefficient form of fossil fuel. Despite continent-wide efforts to phase out coal, these countries continue to emit vast amounts of carbon. At the same time, coal production and consumption across the EU have dropped to historic lows, according to new research by Eurostat.
Click on for an in-depth look at Europe's coal legacy, current challenges and the transition to a cleaner future.