Xi Jinping calls for gradual withdrawal of traditional energy

On October 14, 2021, a surveillance camera is seen near a coal-fired power plant in Shanghai, China. China, the world's biggest source of greenhouse gas emissions, is under pressure to take more drastic action to tackle global warming.

With mounting economic challenges, China is worried about the risks to jobs and growth, especially as it prepares to hold a key Communist Party conclave that is expected to extend Xi's rule.

In a speech published late on Monday by senior Communist Party leaders, Xi said that China needed to overcome the notion of rapid success and proceed slowly.

Xi was quoted as saying that reducing emissions is not about reducing productivity, and it is not about not emitting at all.

He said that we have to stick to the overall plan and ensure energy security, industrial supply chain security and food security at the same time as cutting carbon emissions.

Since the end of last year, Chinese policymakers have stressed that the country would prioritize stability in 2022, despite the fact that there was a national economic work meeting held at the end of last year.

The approach has already begun to feed into policy making, with Zhang Bo, chief engineer of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, telling reporters earlier this week that the country would not impose strict water quality targets on local governments, but would instead encourage them to consolidate previous gains.

With energy supplies still a major concern after a wave of shortages hit manufacturers last year, Xi told party leaders that the gradual withdrawal of traditional energy must be based on the safe and reliable replacement of new energy. China has promised to reduce coal consumption after 2025, a major source of carbon dioxide.

China's state planning agency said in December that it will loosen blanket restrictions on energy consumption in order to make sure environmental targets don't erode growth.