Energy & Science
Record Chinese Coal Burning to Drive Surge in Carbon Emissions
- Energy sector emissions will nearly recover from 2020 dip
- A rebound in coal power in Asia will push up carbon emissions
Emissions rise from the RWE Weisweiler coal-fired power station near Inden, Germany.
Photographer: Lukas Schulze/Getty Images
This article is for subscribers only.
Chinese coal consumption is poised to hit a record this year, contradicting a view held by many climate change and energy experts that the voracious coal usage in the world’s second-biggest economy had peaked.
A 4% surge in Chinese coal demand, coupled with higher consumption elsewhere in Asia, as well as in the U.S. and Europe, will trigger a large increase in carbon emissions, the International Energy Agency said, days before global leaders plan a virtual gathering to discuss the climate change challenge.