The EU’s ambassador to China, Jorge Toledo, has urged Beijing to halt the construction of new coal-fired power plants, citing the growing contradiction between China’s rapid approval of coal projects and its green energy goals. Speaking at an EU-hosted event in Beijing, Toledo emphasized that while the war in Ukraine underscored the importance of energy security, the EU had been able to manage the issue without resorting to fossil fuels. He expressed concern over the significant increase in coal project approvals in China, particularly in the second half of 2024. Beijing approved 66.7 gigawatts (GW) of new coal-fired power capacity last year, with the majority of these approvals occurring in the final months of the year. For context, one gigawatt is equivalent to the capacity of a large coal power plant.

The momentum for new coal plants is strong. A report released last month by the Global Energy Monitor and the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air revealed that China accounted for 93% of global coal power construction starts in 2024. The report also highlighted that long-term power purchase agreements, which establish minimum quotas for coal power, are slowing down the integration of renewable energy into the grid. Toledo stated that this trend is unnecessary and that China could ensure energy security while gradually moving away from coal.

“Commentators outside China are increasingly puzzled at the continued containment of domestic renewable generation in future stranded coal assets,” Toledo remarked. According to The Guardian, China’s rapid development of renewable energy while continuing to build new coal-fired power plants has created a clash between clean and dirty energy in the country’s economy. Despite this, China remains the global leader in renewable energy, with record levels of solar and wind installations last year. Solar capacity rose by 45% to 887GW, while wind capacity increased by 18% to 521GW. Many experts predict that China will meet its pledge to peak emissions by 2030 ahead of schedule.

Zhang Xiaoye, a scholar from the Chinese Academy of Engineering and co-chair of an Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change working group, emphasized that renewable energy in China last year produced as much electricity as the entire United States. He stressed the importance of EU-China cooperation to achieve "blue skies and clean water."

However, there is growing concern about China’s continued commitment to coal. Beijing views coal as a critical part of its energy security and economic strategy. Campaigners argue that discussing the phase-out of coal publicly remains difficult. Official reports, such as one issued on the first day of China’s annual parliamentary session, confirmed that the country intends to "continue to increase coal production and supply capacity, and consolidate the basic supporting role of coal" in its energy structure.