Focus on Arts and Ecology

The big environmental stories in the Chinese media (February 26-4 March) 

China’s coal use rose by 0.6% year-on-year in 2020, as its share of the energy consumption mix dropped to a new low of 56.8%, said the National Bureau of Statistics on 28 February.

The share of natural gas, nuclear and renewable energies rose 1% on the previous year, to 24.3%.

“It’s an achievement for China, as coal use has barely grown for seven consecutive years,” said Li Junfeng, a former director at the National Center for Climate Change Strategy and International Cooperation. One of the reasons was the reduction of coal use by small households and businesses while China fought for cleaner air, Li said.

China’s GDP grew by 2.3% in 2020 compared with 2019, while CO2 emissions also increased by 1.5%, according to an analysis by Carbon Brief. Emissions fell in the first half of 2020 due to Covid-19, but they rebounded in the second half of as the economy recovered.

The growth in carbon emissions is slowing indicating China is “moving towards a peak”, said Zouji, president of the Energy Foundation China, in an interview with China Dialogue last year. 

China has pledged to peak its carbon emissions before 2030. That will require a sustained reduction of carbon intensity per unit of GDP and increase in the share of non-fossil sources in the energy mix. The data released by the National Bureau of Statistics showed a drop in carbon intensity of 1% last year. 

Experts suggest China should set a goal to control total carbon emissions in its 14th Five Year Plan, which will be released at the National People’s Congress (NPC) which kicks off its annual convention today.

Read our analysis on what to expect from the 14th Five Year Plan and why experts suggest China should set a carbon cap. 

(Sources: China Dialogue)