China’s Coal Pledge is a Promising Move for Climate Action

In a United Nations address yesterday, Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged that China would not build new coal-fired power projects abroad, and would step up support for other developing countries to accelerate the transition to green and low-carbon energy.

“President Xi’s announcement is encouraging news as governments and the private sector work to raise climate ambition ahead of November’s COP26 UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow. 

“President Xi’s pledge could help significantly limit the growth of coal plants in the developing world. Details are extremely important and we look forward to learning about plans to implement the policy.

“When combined with earlier pledges to strictly limit increasing coal consumption in the next five years, peak carbon dioxide emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060, China’s announcement this week brings renewed hope for real climate action.”

• Fred Krupp, President, Environmental Defense Fund