The Cambridge Group for the History of Population and Social StructurePaul Warde
In the 19th century , no-one doubted the significance of Britain’s use of coal in underpinning its economic and political power – foreign neighbours envied Britain’s resources and mining industry long before the term ‘Industrial Revolution’ came into widespread use. In more recent decades, understanding about how burning fossil fuels has led to climate change puts a new complexion on this epochal shift. It is not only associated with bursting the constraints of the organic economy, but also bringing new hazards on a global scale. What happened in Britain takes on a new significance.