It is universally accepted now that to limit global warming, carbon dioxide emissions need to be curtailed everywhere. In 2023, energy systems that generate electricity and heat accounted for 36.2 percent of total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions worldwide. As the largest contributor to global GHGs, the energy sector has naturally garnered the most attention from policymakers and environmental activists in the fight against climate change.
For centuries, coal and natural gas have served as primary fuels for electricity generation and heat production in most parts of the world. Burning coal emits nearly twice as much carbon dioxide as natural gas combustion does. That is why, in the last several COP meetings on climate change, there has been such intense focus on placing strict limits on the use of coal. The stated aim is to phase out coal-fired power generation in every country as quickly as possible.
In light of that, it was quite surprising to read this recent article about the government of India having just asked its national power companies to procure $33 billion worth of equipment to build new coal-fired power plants. The investment is expected to add 31 gigawatts (GW) of capacity for power generation in the next five to six years. That is an eye-popping number. The article also said that 10 GW worth of gear was ordered last year, with 2-3 GW having been added annually in the last few years. India already had 237 GW of operating coal-plant capacity as of January 2024. For perspective, the 31 GW of new coal plants that India is looking to build would be nearly equal to Germany’s total operating coal-plant capacity of 40 GW.
The U.N. organizes COP meetings each year with a great deal of fanfare. After all that, and the dire warnings about the planet being cooked to extinction, it seems as though countries like India simply ignore whatever is decided at the conferences. They return home and do anything they want.
Currently, the big elephant in the room when it comes to global GHG emissions is China. Last year, it emitted more than twice the amount of carbon dioxide that the U.S. did. Today, China has an off-the-chart 1,137 GW of coal-plant capacity. Even more alarming, like India, China is adding significantly to that capacity every year. In contrast, the U.S. now has 200 GW of power-generation plants that use coal but is slated to close many of them in the coming years. The U.S. is able to buck the trend only because at present, it produces enormous quantities of natural gas that fuels its power generation plants. If that weren’t the case, it would likely behave just like India and China when it comes to coal consumption.
Small countries like Ghana and others in Africa that have no coal-fired power plants, and contribute negligible amounts to global GHG emissions, are invited to COP meetings every year. Is the attendance worth their time when large nations don’t really mean what they pledge to do at these conferences?
Actions speak louder than words.