This study investigates the relationship between coal consumption, ecological footprint, and economic growth in 18 coal-dependent nations between 1980 and 2015. Using the pooled mean group (PMG) and dynamic fixed effect (DFE) of the panel ARDL estimation technique, the study finds that in developed coal-dependent nations, coal consumption has a positive relationship with economic growth in the short run. However, in the long run, a negative relationship with economic growth was found. Correspondingly, both short-run and long-run demonstrate a positive effect of coal consumption on economic growth in developing countries. In addition, the study finds that in both developed and developing countries, ecological footprint has a positive relationship with economic growth in the long run only. The robust analysis using the three-stage least square (3SLS) reviews bi-directional relationships between coal consumption, ecological footprint, and economic growth, particularly in developed, developing and ecological deficit countries. In contrast, the study finds no evidence of a bi-directional relationship between coal and GDP in ecological surplus countries. Our findings confirm the environmental Kuznets curve hypothesis in developed countries but not in developing countries. Based on the above results we provide a set of policy recommendations.