China Aims to Reduce Coal Consumption in Capital Region by 10% Over 5 Years

Chinese President Xi Jinping [Photo by AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Byung-hee] China plans to reduce coal usage and increase non-fossil energy consumption to 20% during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021?2025).

The Central Committee of the Communist Party and the State Council announced this low-carbon development plan in their opinions on the fight against pollution on the 7th, according to the People's Daily report on the 8th. According to the opinions, carbon dioxide emissions per unit of gross domestic product (GDP) will be reduced by 18% by 2025 compared to 2020. Additionally, during the same period, the concentration of urban fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) will be reduced by 10%.

To achieve this, coal consumption in the Jing-Jin-Ji region, which includes the capital Beijing, nearby Tianjin City, and Hebei Province, will be reduced by 10% compared to 2016?2020. Coal consumption in the economically developed Yangtze River Delta will be reduced by 5%. The goal for the Fenwei Plain, a major coal-producing area, is to record negative growth in coal consumption.

Along with this, China will increase the use of natural gas. In particular, natural gas will be prioritized to ensure clean heating.

Furthermore, pilot applications of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles will be promoted, and clean energy vehicles will be systematically distributed. Electric vehicles will be expanded in medium and large-scale public transportation.

China also plans to strengthen efforts to protect water quality and soil environment.

The State Council pointed out in the opinions that although pollution prevention efforts so far have produced clear effects, "peaking carbon emissions and achieving carbon neutrality is a difficult task. There is still a long way to go in ecological environmental protection."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.