What is the role of coal in the Water-Energy-Food nexus?

Coal mining and coal-fired power plants have huge impacts on water resources through cooling water withdrawal and consumption or water pollution. But the role of coal is highly scale-dependent and underestimated. It is more serious at river basin level than country level.

I would like to ask experts to share their thoughts on the role of coal in the water-energy-food (and perhaps climate) nexus.

Looking forward to your thoughts!