China’s Excessive Coal Consumption Concerns World Leaders’ Net-Zero Emissions Goal

With the recent energy crisis, China increased coal consumption in order to heat homes and meet its growing manufacturing needs. Meanwhile, at COP26, leaders called for a reduction in global carbon emissions.

In an effort to reduce carbon emissions, China closed 5,5000 coal mines and restricted production, affecting two-thirds of its electricity. According to the Financial Times, reduced coal output led to higher coal prices. Electricity companies couldn’t raise prices because of the national price cap, Foreign Policy reports. The hot, windless summer made it worse, as no hydroelectric power was produced, leaving only a small amount of renewable energy.

This shortage occurs as global consumer spending rises due to the pandemic. As a result of this high demand, China has increased its coal consumption. As reported by The New York Times, the country has burned 6% more coal than in 2013.

As a global supplier, China has long polluted the air with its fossil fuel industries. According to the climate research group Ember, China consumed 53% of the world’s coal-powered electricity last year, being the No.1 coal consumer of 2020.

According to Statista, In 2020, China used 82.3 exajoules of coal, more than all other countries combined. The US used 9.2 exajoules and Europe 5.9 exajoules in 2020.

This increased demand for coal has forced China to reopen closed mines, overworking workers in unsafe conditions. The New York Times reports that 18 miners died in 10 accidents in China in the last four weeks.

The New York Times also reports that air pollution has risen in China’s big cities recently, contributing to 1.6 annual premature deaths.

China has made significant efforts to combat climate change, such as closing coal mines and increasing wind and solar energy, but its recent decision to open coal mines and exhaust the coal industry is a step backward against fighting climate crisis

Critics fear this will endanger China’s 14th five-year plan, which includes strict climate reduction goals. According to CNBC, they fear that excessive coal consumption will become a permanent solution to power shortages. According to the Financial Times, China’s State Council will support polluting industries to keep households warm this winter.

Climate change will be difficult to combat unless China drastically reduces its coal consumption.

Original source material for this article taken from here