China is the world's largest greenhouse gas emitter, which is responsible for a significant portion of global emissions, particularly due to its historical use of coal as its main energy source. The country's actions to reduce its coal consumption have global repercussions, and any small reduction in its emissions can seem outsized when compared to the efforts of other countries.
Despite its dominant role in global emissions, China has begun to take significant steps to reduce coal use and transition to more sustainable energy sources. According to one analysis, in the first four months of 2015, China cut its coal use by 8 percent compared to the same period in 2014. This emissions reduction was equivalent to all of the UK's carbon dioxide emissions over the same period.
Documented actions and analysis of coal use in China
The analysis, published by Greenpeace and Energydesk China, reviewed both industry and government data. The report found that China had reduced coal use by 6,1% in the first four months of 2015This in turn translates into a 5% reduction in domestic CO2 emissions, which represents a significant impact worldwide in terms of greenhouse gases.
Lauri Myllyvirta, a Greenpeace analyst who was part of the report's research team, explained that this reduction was mainly due to the decline in industrial production and thermal energy generationAt the same time, the accelerated growth of renewable energies, such as wind and solar, has served to offset this decline in coal use.
In 2014, China cut domestic coal consumption by 2,9%, which was the first decline in more than a decade. In addition, coal production fell by 2,5% during that year, which was an important milestone for the country, being the first significant reduction in coal emissions in more than ten years.
Main causes of the reduction in coal consumption
While these figures seem to indicate a decisive step towards a greener future, the slowdown of the Chinese economy is one of the key factors behind this fall in coal consumption, which has not grown to the expected target of 7%. Still, the Chinese government has shown clear signs of accommodating both the country's economic needs and its international commitments as part of the Paris climate agreement.
It is worth noting that China has announced significant plans to reduce coal use primarily through the modernization of power plants and the gradual closure of those that do not meet new efficiency standards. According to the Chinese State Council, all plants that do not meet efficiency and emission reduction standards will be closed by 2020.
At the international level, this decision has also generated repercussions. The Chinese government has financed the development of coal-fired power plants in countries such as Pakistan, South Africa and Bangladesh, posing serious challenges to international emissions reduction targets, including the Paris Agreement. China finances nearly a quarter of all coal-fired power plants outside its borders.
Impact on air quality and long-term plan
China's goal is not only to reduce its emissions to comply with international agreements, but also improve air quality. In regions such as Beijing and Shanghai, air pollution has reached dangerous levels over the past few decades, with much of this attributed to the intensive use of coal in electricity generation. Government plans aim to improve energy efficiency and reduce the levels of dust and sulphur dioxide (SO2) emitted by coal. By 2020, dust emissions would be reduced by about 1 million tonnes, while SO2 emissions would fall by 1,2 million tonnes.
In terms of energy efficiency, China has achieved an 18,8% decrease in carbon intensity between 2015 and 2020, surpassing its own targets. This means that the country has significantly improved the amount of CO2 emitted per unit of GDP generated.
Despite all these achievements, China’s complete transition to non-fossil sources remains a distant goal. In 2020, the share of the country’s energy still coming from coal was 56,8%, while non-fossil energies such as gas, nuclear, hydropower and wind accounted for only 24,3% of the energy mix.
Through the modernization of its plants and increasing investment in renewables, the Asian country has shown an apparent commitment to reducing its carbon emissions. In the long term, China has committed to achieving a carbon emissions peak before 2030 and complete carbon neutrality by 2060, all as part of its updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement.
The eventual success of these measures will not only affect the environmental future of China, but of the entire world, given its key role in global emissions and its ability to influence how other countries handle the energy transition. Although there is still a long way to go, the initial results are encouraging and show that a significant reduction in coal consumption and the implementation of renewable energy are possible steps.
China's commitment to improving its environment and combating climate change could be the catalyst that allows other major nations to follow its example and confront this global crisis with the urgency it deserves.