‘Betting on a low-carbon future’: why China is ending foreign coal investment

Xi Jinping's promise reflects growing awareness of the climate crisis in China and falling renewable prices

The pledge by China's president, Xi Jinping, on Tuesday to cease building new coal-fired power projects outside the country will be welcome news to environmentalists around the world. It came on the anniversary of Xi's unilateral pledge for China to reach carbon neutrality by 2060. Last year Xi also promised that Chinese emissions would peak by 2030.

China will step up support for other developing countries in developing green and low-carbon energy, and will not build new coal-fired power projects abroad," Xi said in a pre-recorded video address at the annual UN general assembly.