China's Vow To Halt New Coal Projects Abroad Lauded, But Coal Still Primary Energy Source

In a rare address to the UN General Assembly, Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday made a major new climate commitment on behalf of the world's largest emitter of greenhouse gases, Caitlin Hu and Angela Dewan reported for CNN.

Photo Insert: Shuozhou coal power plant

China will not build any new coal-fired power projects abroad, Xi said in a pre-recorded speech. The vow marks a shift in policy around its sprawling Belt and Road infrastructure (BRI) initiative, which had already begun to draw down its coal initiatives.

However, the number of coal-fired power plants has increased in China, which now has to import low-quality coal from Africa. Xi said China will also increase financial support for green and low-carbon energy projects in other developing countries.

China has invested heavily in new coal projects abroad in the past. According to the Green Belt and Road Initiative Center, which analyzes the BRI, China had announced or planned $160 billion worth of coal-fired plants globally between 2014 and 2020.

While reducing involvement in coal abroad, Beijing also has significant climate work to do domestically, where coal remains the primary energy source by a long shot. China consumed more coal than all other countries in the world put together in 2020, a study by the research group Ember showed.

It accounted for 58% of the country's energy demand in 2020, according to the National Bureau of Statistics. Its plan to become carbon-neutral by 2060 comes a decade late to the targets of the US and European Union (EU).

UN Secretary-General António Guterres, who had appealed to world leaders earlier in the day to show solidarity and act on the climate crisis, hailed China's announcement alongside a US commitment to increase climate financing for developing countries.

"I am encouraged by the important announcements made today at the General Assembly by the leaders of the world's two largest economies regarding their commitment to climate action," he said.

"I welcome President Biden's announcement that the United States of America will significantly increase its international climate finance to approximately $11.4 billion a year. This increased contribution from the US will bring developed countries closer to meeting their collective commitment to mobilize US$100 billion a year in climate finance."

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