Climate change: China’s planned coal mines undermine phase-out pledge, adding to greenhouse-gas emissions, researcher says
- 169 new mines could add 10 per cent to mining capacity unless closures of older mines increase, according to Global Energy Monitor
- Developing and operating the planned mines would also increase greenhouse-gas emissions – before any of the coal is burned
China’s pipeline of 169 new coal mines could add around 10 per cent to the nation’s mining capacity in coming years, rather than reducing the fossil fuel as Beijing has pledged, according to Global Energy Monitor (GEM).
The new capacity threatens its plan to wind down coal production after 2025 to help meet its climate goals unless the government shuts more existing mines, the San Francisco-based non-profit organisation said in a report published on Tuesday. The new capacity is in stark contrast to its “dual carbon” targets and pledge to reduce methane emissions, it added.
“The planned expansion even outpaces the country’s coal mine abandonment rate, meaning China will have to accelerate the speed of mine closures and optimisation efforts,” GEM said. Otherwise, it risks “oversupply before the country’s intended coal phase down after 2025.”
The new mines have a combined annual output capacity of 559 mil tonnes, according to GEM’s tally of planned and approved projects. Among the 169 mines, 139 are under construction and 27 have been approved for construction, GEM added.
“China’s manoeuvre to boost coal supply would have had an immediate climate impact, even before burning the coal at power plants,” GEM analyst Ryan Driskell Tate said.
The planned mines could increase China’s emissions of methane by 6 million tonnes a year, adding more than 10 per cent to the damaging greenhouse gas attributed to coal mining globally, GEM said.
