China to cease funding coal power projects overseas

Mr. Tong Defa, the Chinese Ambassador to Ghana, has reaffirmed China’s commitment to global climate action, restating the country’s policy to halt funding for coal power projects abroad.
His remarks echo President Xi Jinping’s pledge at the United Nations General Assembly in September 2021, where China committed to ending the construction of new coal-fired power plants overseas.
The Ambassador made the statement during a special interactive session with participants of the Ghana-China Media Fellowship 2025, held at the African China Centre for Policy and Advisory (ACCPA) training centre in Accra.
The fellowship is a 12-week programme aimed at building the capacity of Ghanaian media professionals on Ghana-China relations.
The maiden fellowship, hosted by ACCPA, provides journalists with practical insights into China’s policy approaches, economic cooperation, and global commitments.
China’s 2021 pledge marked a significant shift in global energy financing.
The country had previously been among the largest financiers of coal infrastructure worldwide, particularly through its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
Research by the Global Energy Monitor and Boston University indicated that, before the 2021 announcement, Chinese institutions were involved in more than 70 per cent of all coal plants under construction globally outside China.
Since then, several planned coal projects have been suspended or cancelled, and Beijing has signalled a strategic pivot toward supporting green energy and sustainable infrastructure in partner countries.
Ambassador Tong’s reaffirmation underscored China’s continued alignment with international climate goals, including the Paris Agreement and its target of carbon neutrality by 2060.
His visit gave fellows first-hand insight into China’s evolving environmental diplomacy and its implications for Africa, particularly its push to promote renewable energy technologies and climate-smart investments across developing countries.

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