As the U.S. and the world seek to decrease carbon emissions, China recently announced that it will expand coal-powered factories.
According to The Guardian, China announced that it plans to build more coal-fired plants, a move that the UK views as at odds with securing an international agreement at the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) for countries to begin the phasing out of coal.
China also gave the impression that it may re-evaluate its emission reduction timeline, The Guardian reported. The country had previously agreed to become carbon neutral by 2060, but the announcement of plans to expand the country's coal-powered plant supply puts that timeline in jeopardy.
"Given the predominant place of coal in the country’s energy and resource endowment, it is important to optimize the layout for the coal production capacity, build advanced coal-fired power plants as appropriate in line with development needs, and continue to phase out outdated coal plants in an orderly fashion. Domestic oil and gas exploration will be intensified," a statement from Beijing representatives said, according to The Guardian.
China was hit with multiple blackouts during recent weeks that affected both personal and industrial power supplies. This announcement comes on the heels of these issues in an effort to ensure that the country does not deal with the same problems in the future, The Guardian reported.
Daily Mail reported that as China plans to build more coal plants, Beijing wants to expand "capacity for energy self-supply" and create a "modern energy system."