For subscribers

Asian Insider

Xi's comments on coal signal political will to tackle climate change

Sign up now: Get insights on Asia's fast-moving developments

Chinese President Xi Jinping at the virtual climate summit hosted by the US last week, when he pledged to limit China's use of coal over the next five years. PHOTO: BLOOMBERG

Chinese President Xi Jinping at the virtual climate summit hosted by the US last week, when he pledged to limit China's use of coal over the next five years.

PHOTO: BLOOMBERG

Google Preferred Source badge
Watching Chinese President Xi Jinping speak at the United States climate summit last week, it would have been natural to come away feeling underwhelmed.
Compared with the Biden administration's commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50 per cent to 52 per cent from 2005 levels by 2030, Mr Xi's pledge to limit the use of coal over the next five years and draw down its consumption in the following five years seemed unambitious.
See more on