President Xi Jinping tells UN General Assembly that China will support low-carbon energy and stop building coal-fired projects. UN and U.S. welcome the move, but observers warn that private sector must follow governments’ lead if climate targets are to be met.
Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Tuesday that China would stop building new coal-fired power plants abroad, marking a historic shift away from the fossil fuel before the United Nations climate summit in November.
“China will step up support for other developing countries in developing green and low-carbon energy and will not build new coal-fired power projects abroad,” Xi said in pre-recorded remarks to the United Nations General Assembly.
The president’s announcement was welcomed by the international community and described as a boost ahead of the UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow from October 31, the success of which depends on countries’ willingness to act.