This was the fuel that launched the industrial revolution and has continued to grow in use ; China was in 2007 building about two coal - fired power plants every week .
China already has many of the world 's most polluted cities .
This was the fuel that launched the industrial revolution and has continued to grow in use ; China , which already has many of the world 's most polluted cities , was in 2007 building about two coal - fired power plants every week .