It is alarming that US President Donald Trump has halted research on the health and environmental risks of coal mining (Nature 548, 499; 2017). Investigating and documenting the harmful effects of coal extraction on miners and local populations is essential — and the results would bolster support for decarbonization of the energy sector (see also C. Figueres et al. Nature 546, 593–595; 2017).

Scientists, donor agencies and policymakers must all turn their attention to marginalized groups in coal-mining regions. In Indonesia, for example, the rapid expansion of coal mining has affected health and livelihoods, and polluted water and air (B. Brown and S. J. Spiegel Geoforum 85, 101–111; 2017). Furthermore, these injustices are fuelling climate change.

Even though energy policies are entangled in complex webs of political and economic power, scientists and activists have successfully pushed for commitments to phase out coal-fired power in some countries (notably in the United Kingdom by 2025, in France by 2022 and in Canada by 2030). This stands in contrast to the United States, where increased demand from Europe and Asia has boosted coal exports by 60% since last year (see go.nature.com/2y7qyut), despite a decline in exports during 2012–16.