A survey shows that big steelmakers are not switching to renewable energy sources.
A survey of 18 major firms revealed that the world's largest steelmakers are falling further behind in their shift to low-carbon production. Some still rely on fossil fuels as their primary source of energy. The steel industry is responsible for around 7% of the global CO2 emissions. This is about the same as India. Coal-fired blasting furnaces produce 2 tons of CO2 per ton of output. There are alternative technologies…
Researchers say that China is off track in its emissions targets as the energy demand offsets the renewables push.
Researchers said that despite rapid advances in renewable energy and electric vehicles, China's carbon dioxide emissions are expected to increase slightly this year. This puts a 2025 climate goal further out of reach. In its annual report, the Helsinki-based Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, or CREA, stated that China aims to reduce the amount of CO2 produced per unit of economic development by 18% between 2021 and 2025.
Official: China hopes US climate collaboration will continue whoever wins the election
A senior official in the Chinese government said that China hoped the United States would be able continue to work with other countries to combat climate change regardless of the results of the presidential elections next week. The 2015 Paris Agreement was made possible by the cooperation between China and the United States. They are the two largest emitters of greenhouse gases that cause climate change.
UN says current climate pledges fall far short of Paris goals
The United Nations stated on Monday that national pledges to reduce greenhouse gas emissions are still far below what is required to limit catastrophic global heating. In its annual report, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change said that the "nationally determined contribution" (NDC) already submitted to the U.N. by countries is enough to reduce global emissions by 2,6% between 2019 and 2030. This is up from 2% the previous year.
Think tank: China could reduce CO2 emissions by a third with new UN targets by 2035
A Thursday report by an environmental think-tank suggested that China's carbon dioxide emissions, which contribute to climate change and are a major contributor to global warming, could drop by a third in 2035 if the country makes more ambitious commitments at the United Nations. In order to meet their Paris obligations, countries must submit new and stronger "nationally defined contributions" (NDCs), to the U.N. before February in order to set goals for 2035.
Research group: China has invested over $100 billion in cleantech overseas since 2023.
According to the Australian Climate Energy Finance group, Chinese companies have invested more than $100 billion in clean energy projects since 2023. They do this in order to avoid tariffs on imports from the U.S. CEF's research revealed that China was the largest producer and exporter in the world of solar panels, lithium-ion batteries, and electric vehicles. Its investment, innovation, and manufacturing capabilities led the world by "an astonishing margin", the report said.
Biden Announces Return to Global Climate Accord, New Curbs on US Oil Industry
U.S. President Joe Biden on Wednesday announced America's return to the international Paris Agreement to fight climate change, the centerpiece of a raft of day-one executive orders aimed at restoring U.S. leadership in combating global warming.The announcements also included a sweeping order to review all of former President Donald Trump's actions weakening climate change protections, the revocation of a vital permit for TC Energy's Keystone XL oil pipeline project from Canada…
Mongolia Suspends Coal Exports to China
Mongolia will suspend deliveries of coal across its southern border into China until March 2 to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, the country's National Emergency Commission said on Monday.Exports via the border points of Gashuunsukhait, Shiveekhuren, Bichigt and Bulgan will all be stopped, the commission said. The body is also recommending that Mongolia's Tsagaan Sar new year celebrations be suspended…
Construction Starts on Zhangzhou Nuclear Project
China National Nuclear Power Co Ltd started the construction of the Zhangzhou nuclear project on Wednesday, the company said in a filing to the Shanghai Stock Exchange.The project, which will use China's homegrown third-generation nuclear reactor technology know as the "Hualong One", was the first new conventional nuclear project to be approved by China in three years.(Reporting by Min Zhang and David Stanway, editing by Louise Heavens)
China to take action against 'uncontrolled' hydro on Yangtze
China's has urged local governments along the Yangtze river to survey the environmental damage done by the "uncontrolled" development of small-scale hydropower, warning that some plants could be closed, according to a government notice on Wednesday.Local authorities have been instructed to conduct a survey into hydropower construction along the Yangtze River Economic Belt, which stretches from…
Mongolia Coal Export Earnings Surge after N.Korea Ban
Mongolia's coal export earnings surged nearly fivefold in the first five months of the year, according to official data, with the country taking advantage of sanctions on North Korea to boost deliveries to China, its major customer. Cash-strapped Mongolia was forced to turn to the International Monetary Fund for support this year following a collapse in foreign investment, declining commodity prices and a downturn in coal demand.
China for Tougher Environmental Norms to Fight Overcapacity
China will use the stricter enforcement of environmental, safety and energy efficiency standards as well as tougher credit controls to help fight against overcapacity in key industrial sectors, the government said. The world's second-largest economy has identified overcapacity as one of its key challenges and it has already pledged mass closures in the steel and coal sectors, but it has so far fallen behind on its targets.
China Halts Work on $15 bln Nuclear Waste Project After Protests
A Chinese city has suspended preliminary work on a proposed 100 billion yuan ($15 billion) nuclear waste processing plant following protests by local residents concerned about health risks. Reports that Lianyungang - a coastal city about 500 km (310 miles) north of Shanghai - was set to be chosen as the site for the project sparked protests that began at the weekend. The project, to be run…
China's CGN not to go alone on British Nuclear Plants
China General Nuclear Power Corporation (CGNPC) on Saturday said it has no plans to build reactors at the Hinkley Point C site in Britain, denying reports it would be willing to take over from EDF should the French firm pull out. EDF has delayed its investment decision on the construction of two "third-generation" European Pressurised Reactors (EPRs) at Hinkley Point until September, amid escalating…
China April Oil Imports Rise 7.6 pct
China's imports of crude oil rose 7.6 percent in April from a year ago, customs data showed on Sunday, lifted by continued strong demand from domestic private refiners. The high April inflows were a result of the strong appetite of small domestic independent "teapot" refineries. Beijing has granted licenses to more than 20 of them since last year to import crude for the first time. China imported 32.58 million tonnes of crude oil in April…
Nations Seek Early Ratification of Paris Climate Deal
Many nations are pushing for swift ratification of a Paris agreement to slow climate change and lock it in place for four years before a change in the White House next year that might bring a weakening of Washington's long-term commitment. More than 130 nations with 60 leaders including French President Francois Hollande are due to sign December's pact at a U.N. ceremony in New York on April 22, the most ever for a U.N. agreement on an opening day, the United Nations said.
China's Shenhua in Talks with CNNC, CGN on Stakes in Nuclear Projects
China's Shenhua Group is in talks with leading Chinese nuclear developers on taking stakes in domestic nuclear projects, as the country's biggest coal producer diversifies into cleaner forms of energy, Shenhua President Zhang Yuzhuo said on Wednesday. Shenhua Group, state-owned parent of Shanghai and Hong Kong-listed China Shenhua Energy, has been cutting coal production in a bid to shore up prices, which have plunged as a result of declining demand and a huge domestic supply glut.
China Shenhua Energy Net Profits Down in 2015
China Shenhua Energy's net profit fell 56.9 percent to 16.14 billion yuan ($2.47 billion) last year due to lower demand in a slowing economy and the country's efforts to switch to cleaner forms of energy. The listed arm of the Shenhua Group, China's biggest coal producer, said in its annual report demand for coal and other fossil fuels was likely to fall further in 2016, with the pace of restructuring…
China CO2 Emissions May Have peaked in 2014
Study says emissions could fall modestly from now. China's carbon emissions, by far the world's highest, may have peaked in 2014, according to a study published on Monday, potentially putting Beijing under pressure to toughen climate pledges perceived as too lax. China has promised to bring greenhouse gas emissions to a peak by "around 2030" as part of its commitments to a global pact to combat global warming, signed in Paris last year.
China Sets Energy Consumption Cap for First Time
China aims to keep energy consumption within 5 billion tonnes of standard coal equivalent by 2020, it said in its latest five-year plan published on Saturday, marking the first time the world's second-biggest economy has set such a target. China has long been considering an energy consumption cap in a bid to improve industrial efficiency, tackle smog and control greenhouse gas emissions, which are the highest in the world.
