Sylvie Claire / August 10, 2021
The world must have confidence in China's commitments in the fight against climate change, Beijing assured Tuesday, after the publication of the report of UN climate experts (IPCC).
China, the world's largest polluter, has pledged to begin reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 but at the same time has announced the reopening of coal mines to fuel economic activity.
The international community must have full confidence in the implementation of China's climate action, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said in a statement to AFP.
Less than three months before the COP26 climate conference in Glasgow, IPCC experts warned on Monday that humans are indisputably responsible for climate change and have no choice but to drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions if they want to limit the damage.
In China, President Xi Jinping solemnly declared in April that China would strictly control its coal-fired power plant projects and gradually reduce its consumption of coal, a particularly polluting energy source.
But China's powerful planning agency gave the green light last week to restart 15 mines that will supply about 44 million tons of coal a year.
It had previously approved the revival of 38 other coal mines. While the economy is recovering in China and elsewhere in the world, the country is facing power shortages.