June Javelosa reports that almost three years ago, China declared their intentions to wage a war against pollution, a move in direct response to the dire state of the air quality and worldwide efforts to address climate change. Even now, as China announces plans to shut down the construction of more than one hundred coal-fired power plants, some of its major cities are still reeling from the toxic smog that blanketed northern China at the beginning of 2017.
But with the China National Energy Administration cancelling a significant number of its planned coal-fired projects, it looks like China is going to make significant strides toward winning this war. According to The RAND Corporation, China is the biggest emitter of greenhouse gases, and shutting down 104 coal-fired projects across 13 provinces, which are expected to deliver a total of 120 gigawatts of power, will have a significant impact on their total volume of carbon emissions.
It might actually be possible for the biggest industrial nation to meet its target of limiting coal-fired power generation to 1,100 gigawatts by 2020.
Electricity generated from coal is by far the largest source of greenhouse gasses that contributes to global warming, and China, as well as the rest of the coal-dependent countries around the world, have a long way to go. For instance, while the steps China is taking right now are notable, the recent government-ordered cancellations total only a third of the U.S. massive fleet of coal-fired power plants.
Recognizing how coal affects the environment is one thing, stepping up and doing something about it is another, especially if leaders of the biggest nations are not going to make it a priority. But, numerous initiatives are already in place, or are being started, in a global and concerted effort to address global warming. But how the new administration reacts to climate change issues will be of interest to the rest of the world, including China.
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