China’s Coal Pledge is a Promising Move for Climate Action

Statement from EDF President Fred Krupp

In a United Nations address yesterday, Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged that China would not build new coal-fired power projects abroad, and would step up support for other developing countries to accelerate the transition to green and low-carbon energy.

“President Xi’s announcement is encouraging news as governments and the private sector work to raise climate ambition ahead of November’s COP26 UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow. 

“President Xi’s pledge could help significantly limit the growth of coal plants in the developing world. Details are extremely important and we look forward to learning about plans to implement the policy.

“When combined with earlier pledges to strictly limit increasing coal consumption in the next five years, peak carbon dioxide emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060, China’s announcement this week brings renewed hope for real climate action.”

  • Fred Krupp, President, Environmental Defense Fund

One of the world’s leading international nonprofit organizations, Environmental Defense Fund (edf.org) creates transformational solutions to the most serious environmental problems. To do so, EDF links science, economics, law, and innovative private-sector partnerships. With more than 3 million members and offices in the United States, China, Mexico, Indonesia and the European Union, EDF’s scientists, economists, attorneys and policy experts are working in 28 countries to turn our solutions into action. Connect with us on Twitter @EnvDefenseFund

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