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China Coal Expansions Threaten Higher Methane Levels Worldwide

Beijing’s fossil fuel push could jeopardize its own short-term climate targets, according to a report from Global Energy Monitor.

Clouds of methane observed by satellite over China, mostly from coal mines, from 2019 to the present.

Clouds of methane observed by satellite over China, mostly from coal mines, from 2019 to the present.

Source: Kayrros SAS

Bloomberg News

China’s plans for 169 new and expanded coal projects could boost global methane emissions from mines that produce the dirtiest fossil fuel by 10% and jeopardize its own short-term climate targets, according to a new analysis.

The projects under development would nearly double China’s original targeted increase in domestic output, according to a report from Global Energy Monitor released Tuesday. President Xi Jinping is deepening China’s dependence on coal as a way to mitigate the impact of soaring energy prices and geopolitical instability created by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.