China’s New Coal Language Leaves Room for Rising Use

A subtle change in language used by the Chinese government has left room for the world’s biggest coal user to prolong rising consumption through the end of the decade.

The Communist Party said in a communiqué on Tuesday that China would seek a peak in coal and oil use during the 15th Five-Year Plan period, which runs from 2026 to 2030. The message differs slightly from that given by President Xi Jinping during an April 2021 speech, when he said Beijing would phase down coal consumption during the 2026-2030 period.