to cap their
carbon dioxide
emissions by 2030.
But they have not
promised to meet
a “net zero” emissions
target by 2050, like the
European Union has.
I don't take
any of their
promises
seriously,
but they
do have a
serious urban
air pollution
problem.
China is currently
the world’s biggest
coal consumer.
China pledges to curb
carbon emissions,
but is expanding its
coal infrastructure ?
Does that make sense ?
Money allocated
to all the large
infrastructure
projects doubled
this year, to
£83.9 billion
That money
is for many projects,
such as airports
and high-speed
rail lines.
But funding for 17 new
coal mines across China
is also included,
despite Beijing’s pledge
to reduce reliance on coal.
Seven new coal mines
were approved last year !
Between 2017
and 2018,
China added
94 million tonnes of
coal mining capacity,
with the total number
of mines reaching
more than 3,000.
China is in the sixth year
of its “war on pollution”.
Decades of industrial growth
left many cities filled smog.
Only 45% of China’s
current coal capacity
is being used.
But China does want
lots of new, modern,
clean, coal power
stations.
That will allow them
to shut down the old,
dirty ,coal power
stations, which cause
far too much pollution.