Wedoany.com Report-Mar 27, China has completely halted the construction of new coal-fired power plants, contrary to claims made in an academic report published in February. “We have entirely stopped building new coal-fired power plants,” assured Sun Jinlong, China’s Vice Minister of Ecology and Environment, on Thursday during the opening ceremony of the Macau International Environmental Cooperation Forum & Exhibition (MIECF).
In his speech, Sun stated that Macau, as “the only region in the world where both Chinese and Portuguese are official languages,” can play “a unique role in fostering financial cooperation and investment with Portuguese-speaking countries.”
The vice minister highlighted that China has already signed agreements with over 40 countries to tackle the impacts of climate change.
Sun argued that the results of China’s environmental policies are “evident,” emphasising that forest coverage has exceeded 25 per cent of the country’s total area.
China has “the world’s largest green electricity system” and leads globally in hydropower, wind, and solar energy production, he added.
Sun’s statement comes about a month after a report warned that in 2024, China had started constructing its largest coal power plants in the past decade.
China is the world’s largest emitter of greenhouse gases but is also at the forefront of renewable energy. In 2024, it added 356 GW of new wind and solar capacity, 4.5 times more than the European Union, according to official data.
Although coal has served as an essential energy source in China for decades, the rapid expansion of wind and solar capacity in recent years has sparked hopes that the country can transition away from this highly polluting fossil fuel. China has announced its goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2060.
Macau’s commitment
Macau’s Secretary for Transport and Public Works, Raymond Tam, stressed in his speech at the opening ceremony of MIECF the SAR’s commitment to meeting its dual carbon goals.
“The government will advance carbon reduction initiatives, adopting renewable energy and green transportation,” Tam said, adding that the ‘green fair,’ held at The Venetian Cotai Expo, provides a key platform for exchanges and cooperation between the Greater Bay Area and different countries and regions.
Under the theme “Innovation and Green Development – Solutions to Build Beautiful Cities,” the 2025 MIECF kicked off on Thursday, bringing together participants from 40 countries and regions. The four-day event features five exhibition zones, including the Debut Economy Projects Zone and the Green Future Industry Zone, which have attracted more than 60 overseas enterprises showcasing their latest environmental projects.
A series of international exchange activities will also be organised during the event, including the Roundtable Seminar on Green and Low-Carbon Urban Transformation and Industry Cooperation, where representatives from Belgium, Brazil, Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, South Korea, Japan, Thailand, Uzbekistan, and other countries and regions will facilitate city-to-city exchanges and business partnerships.
Moreover, five themed matching sessions will be arranged for buyers and trade visitors from home and abroad, creating opportunities for negotiation and collaboration.
