Can China’s Air Pollution Action Plan Slow Down New Coal Power Development?

Last month, China’s State Council announced a new action plan to combat air pollution, which included a prohibition of new coal-fired power plants in the three most important metropolitan areas around Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou (known as the “key-three city clusters”).  This followed a previous announcement of a $275 billion investment by the central government in improving air quality.  The action plan aims to tackle the increasingly severe air pollution problem in China, which is largely caused by its massive consumption of coal.

In addition to banning new coal-fired plants in the key three city clusters, the plan included ambitious targets to reduce particulates.  These pollutants are major health concerns, and are prevalent throughout much of China.

But while the plan sounds like progress, will it actually slow down China’s new coal construction?  A bit of analysis suggests that it may take more action to really curb China’s appetite for coal.

Can China’s Air Pollution Action Plan Slow Down New Coal Power Development?