A new report says China canceled 67% of the overseas coal capacity it planned in 2021—61.5 gigawatts, estimated to avoid 6.4 billion tons of lifetime carbon dioxide emissions. An analyst says the pledge still lets private Chinese companies invest abroad.
The report was produced by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air and People of Asia for Climate Solutions. In Indonesia, Chinese-funded “captive coal” plants supply heavy industry without connecting to the national grid; the report lists 17.1 gigawatts of China-backed coal capacity planned there. Vietnam and Pakistan each have fewer than 4 gigawatts planned.
The article says the Iran-war energy shock prompted the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam to increase coal use. Li Shuo of the Asia Society Policy Institute said Southeast Asia’s push for reliable energy could trigger another round of coal expansion and test the pledge.
