Governance can not simply limit coal

In recent years, the surge in coal consumption has become a major contributor to air pollution in China. However, the real issue lies not just in the quantity of coal used, but in the outdated technologies employed for its utilization. As smog becomes more severe and public concern grows, the government has taken decisive steps to address environmental challenges. In September 2013, the State Council released the "Action Plan for Prevention and Control of Atmospheric Pollution," setting clear targets and measures to combat air pollution. Local governments followed suit, implementing policies that have won public support. Yet, some regions have adopted an overly simplistic approach by reducing coal use without considering long-term energy needs, often shifting toward natural gas. Natural gas is indeed a cleaner fossil fuel, and increasing its use can help reduce emissions. However, this shift must be realistic, taking into account China’s limited domestic energy resources and the challenges of securing sufficient supplies from abroad. Coal will remain a critical part of China’s energy mix for the foreseeable future. To address this, investment in both conventional and unconventional natural gas resources is growing, along with efforts to expand imports via land and sea routes. But transitioning to a higher share of natural gas must be gradual, as it cannot happen overnight. The root cause of pollution from coal is not just its usage, but the lack of advanced technologies to clean and utilize it effectively. Advances in clean coal technology have shown that it is possible to significantly reduce emissions, even meeting the same standards as natural gas. For instance, major breakthroughs in ultra-low emission projects at coal-fired power plants have demonstrated that flue gas emissions now meet the same levels as those from natural gas units. Emissions of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter are all well below regulatory limits. Similarly, coal gasification processes allow for the purification of synthetic gas, which can then be used as fuel or chemical feedstock, drastically cutting pollution. While large-scale enterprises can manage coal-related pollution through clean technologies, the real challenge lies in decentralized sources—such as small boilers and residential coal burning. These contribute disproportionately to emissions compared to large-scale, clean coal utilization systems. Current efforts focus on centralized coal users who can adopt clean technologies. A comprehensive strategy should include reducing scattered coal use, promoting cleaner alternatives like natural gas, and encouraging industries to phase out outdated methods in favor of modern, efficient systems. To achieve these goals, the National Energy Administration should collaborate with environmental authorities to develop policies tailored to China’s unique conditions. This includes setting strict and realistic emission standards based on proven clean coal technologies, supporting technological upgrades in the industry, and ensuring that companies are not restricted from using coal if they meet new environmental requirements. Finally, natural gas resources should be used efficiently to accelerate the transition away from scattered coal, improving overall air quality and environmental sustainability.

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