Climate goals

China ⁤Continues Coal Expansion, Raising Doubts‌ Over 2060 Climate Neutrality Pledge

BEIJING – Despite a commitment⁣ to ⁤achieve‌ climate‍ neutrality by 2060, China is actively increasing its​ reliance on coal-fired ⁣power, including bringing new plants‍ online, with plans to continue this expansion for at least two ‌more years. This strategy, officials ⁤say, is intended to stabilize the power grid as the nation integrates growing capacities of intermittent renewable energy ​sources like solar​ and wind. The continued investment in coal is prompting skepticism about the feasibility and ⁢sincerity of‍ ChinaS long-term climate goals.

The ‌world’s largest​ emitter of greenhouse‌ gases faces ‍a significant challenge in balancing energy​ security with its stated environmental ambitions. While China has invested heavily⁣ in renewable energy, the current infrastructure requires⁣ fossil fuels-particularly coal-to manage fluctuations in renewable energy supply. This reliance casts a shadow over the nation’s ability⁣ to drastically reduce emissions in the coming decades, a critical step to limiting global⁣ warming to 1.5⁢ degrees Celsius as outlined in the Paris Agreement. The stakes are high, as China’s actions have a ample impact on global climate efforts.

Climate⁣ analyst Lauri Myllyvirta critiques the pace of‍ China’s initial emissions reductions, stating, “If you have a ⁢little more than three decades and say that you can only reduce‍ seven‍ to ten percent of emissions in the frist decade, then ⁤it ⁤does not contribute much to credibility.” Myllyvirta further suggests⁤ that⁣ such a slow initial reduction implies an ‍unrealistic expectation of achieving the remaining 90 percent ⁤of ‌cuts within⁤ the ⁣subsequent‍ two decades.

The continued construction of⁢ coal-fired power plants signals‌ a potential divergence between China’s ⁢long-term aspirations and ‍its immediate energy​ needs.⁢ The country’s energy ⁣policy is a complex interplay of economic development, energy security, and ⁣environmental concerns, and the current trajectory ‍raises questions about whether China will‍ prioritize decarbonization quickly enough to meet its 2060 target.