Carbon dioxide emissions from Chinese-invested power plants now amount to around 245 million tons a year, about the same as annual energy-related CO2 emissions from countries the size of Spain or Thailand, according to new research.
Chinese corporations and government-run investment banks have financed a total of 171. 6 gigawatts of power generation capacity, totaling 648 power plants in 92 countries, a new study from Boston University’s Center for Global Development Policy said on Tuesday.
“While China has taken steps to decarbonize its investment. . . more can be done to decarbonize China’s global power, adding by focusing on the decarbonization of Asia, where the largest generation capacity is financed through China and more than 50% is coal-based. “said the outlet in its report.
About a portion of this overall China-backed power-generating capacity is tied to fossil fuels, and the project portfolio can carry a hundred million tons more annual CO2 emissions if completed, said Cecilia Springer, a researcher at Boston University. Centro de estudios. centro.
“China’s overseas energy portfolio is still governed by large-scale hydropower and coal, indicating that China can do more to enforce its commitment to step up green and low-carbon energy in emerging countries, especially wind and solar. “she said. .
President Xi Jinping told the United Nations General Assembly last year that China would avoid making an investment in coal-fired power plants as part of its commitment to combat climate change, a move estimated at about $50 billion in investment.
Xi’s commitment has led to the early cancellation of several overseas projects, some have remained in a “gray area” and can still move on, Mavens said.
China is the world’s largest emitter of greenhouse gases and its largest coal customer.
Most of China’s funded power-generating capacity, lately at the plan-making stage, will use low-carbon power sources, according to research from Boston University, indicating that a recent commitment to end coal financing is having an effect.