Climate Changed
China's Funding for Coal Draws Scrutiny as Climate Concern Grows
Asian nations are biggest backers of new fossil fuel plants as scientists weigh call for much stricter limits
Chinese workers commute as smoke billows from a coal fired power plant in Shanxi, China.
Photographer: Kevin Frayer/Getty Images AsiaPacThis article is for subscribers only.
China's leading role in financing a wave of new coal plants across Asia is drawing fresh scrutiny as the world’s top climate scientists weigh calling for much deeper cuts in emissions.
China, India, Japan and the Philippines rank among the biggest investors in the 1,380 coal plants under construction or development worldwide, according to a study by the German pressure group Urgewald released Thursday.