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.
Source: Kayrros SAS
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.