China’s planned expansion of coal mining poses a threat to the country’s climate goals and could lead to a significant increase in methane emissions, according to a study released on Tuesday.
This warning comes as new research indicates that concentrations of methane, a potent greenhouse gas, are rising at a rapid pace.
Despite China’s efforts to install renewable energy sources quickly, it remains the largest emitter of greenhouse gases globally and heavily relies on coal.
The country aims to reach its peak emissions by 2030 and achieve net zero emissions by 2060.
However, the country produced a record 4.7 billion tonnes of coal last year, accounting for 50% of the global output, with plans for further expansion, as reported by the NGO Global Energy Monitor (GEM).
China currently has 1.2 billion more tonnes of coal production capacity in development, including new mines and expansions, which represent more than half of the global pipeline, according to GEM.
GEM warned that this massive expansion of coal mining, if not mitigated properly, will lead to a significant increase in methane emissions.
Coal production is a major source of methane emissions, which can seep from mines through various channels.
More than 150 countries have pledged to reduce methane emissions by 30% by 2030, but China, India, and Russia have not signed onto this initiative.
Estimating methane emissions is complex, but research suggests that the real figures in China could be significantly higher than current estimates, potentially leading to a rise of 10 million tonnes if all planned coal production goes through.
Despite China’s increasing focus on renewable energy, it continues to invest in and expand coal production, partly due to energy security concerns.
Analysts suggest that China’s emissions may have already peaked, and the country will co-host a summit on non-CO2 gases with the United States at this year’s UN climate talks in Baku.
