New report finds China accounts for astonishing two thirds of global coal power capacity
The report warned that countries must shut down coal plants faster and impose tighter restrictions on the development and usage of new plants.
China is currently constructing 20 times the amount of coal power capacity compared the rest of the world as it accounts for two-thirds of global supply.
A report by Global Energy Monitor found that China contributed roughly 32 gigawatts (GW) to the growth of net coal capacity last year, which stood at 48.4 GW.
The country also began work on 70.2 GW of new coal-power capacity, which is almost a staggering 20 times more than the rest of the world's 3.7 GW.
Globally, coal power capacity grew more in 2023 than any year since 2016, representing a two percent increase.
The UK and the US also reduced the number of coal power plants they closed by the smallest amount since 2011 - 22.1 GW.
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The report warned that countries must shut down coal plants faster and impose tighter restrictions on the development and usage of new plants.
Flora Champenois, a Global Energy Monitor analyst said: "Otherwise we can forget about meeting our goals in the Paris agreement and reaping the benefits that a swift transition to clean energy will bring."
As well as China, other countries increasing their numbers of coal plants included Indonesia, India, Vietnam, Japan, Bangladesh, Pakistan, South Korea, Greece and Zimbabwe.
Despite these advancements to its coal industry, China maintains it will reach net-zero by 2060, with Xi Jinping claiming his country would "strictly control coal consumption" up to 2025 and then "phase down coal consumption".
The report warned China needs "immediate and determined action" to meet its climate targets as it only shut down 3.7 GW of coal capacity last year and accounts for over half of all coal consumption since 2011.
However, Champenois called the 2023 figures an "anomaly" as countries continue to reduce their coal consumption, instead opting for more green energy to meet climate targets.
She said: "Coal’s fortunes this year are an anomaly, as all signs point to reversing course from this accelerated expansion."
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