The Chinese delegation raised last-minute objections to a COP26 effort to phase out the use of coal. China also resisted a call for countries to step up their emissions plans as soon as 2022, saying that such a revision would be too time-consuming. Beijing’s objection came despite its pledge to hit peak emissions by 2030 and carbon-neutrality by 2060. It also came after China agreed with the US to work together to boost concrete action to slash cut greenhouse gas emissions in the 2020s.
Despite the pledges, China is facing a severe power crunch that has slowed its economy. The country’s state planner has ordered local coal miners to ramp up production. China’s coal output hit a daily record of 12.05 million tons on Wednesday, with prices halving since hitting an all-time high in October. Premier Li Keqiang warned that the energy transition needs to be supported by a stable supply of energy. He also called for an in-depth review of the power shortage before setting any short-term peak emissions targets.
China also argues that it will capture and sequester some carbon dioxide produced from burning fossil fuels. China is a global leader in renewable energy capacity, with around 100-GW of solar and wind projects. However, coal remains its primary source of power. A report by Global Energy Monitor showed China commissioned 38.4 GW of new coal-fired power capacity in 2020, accounting for 76% of global capacity added that year. China also has 88.1 GW of coal-fired plants under construction, nearly half of the global total. Another 158.7 GW is under planning, also almost half of the world’s total.
