Using the arts to support communities in transition away from coal

On the journey to net zero, communities around the world are coming to terms with their inevitable transition away from coal. 

This was the case in Coshocton, Ohio, where a coal-burning power plant was once the backbone of the local community. The plant was demolished in 2020, but in May of this year, the community gathered to pay their respects – a funeral in the form of a play. The project was started by Ohio State University’s School of Environment and Natural Resources, combining social science and fine arts to better understand the significant community impacts of moving away from coal. 

The Wire’s Mary-Kate Hannagan spoke to Dr Jeffrey Jacquet, Associate Professor of Rural, Environmental and Natural Resource Sociology at Ohio State University to learn more about the project.

Image: Presentation by Dr Jeffrey Jacquet, World Mining Congress/ Supplied: Aryana Mohmood

Produced By: Mary-Kate Hannagan

Featured In Story: Dr Jeffrey Jacquet, Associate Professor of Rural, Environmental and Natural Resource Sociology, Ohio State University

First aired on The Wire, Monday 26 June 2023