中国の石炭発電、世界の取り組み「取り消す」恐れ　ケリー特使

【ワシントンＡＦＰ＝時事】中国を訪問中のジョン・ケリー米大統領特使（気候変動問題担当）は２日、中国政府高官らと会談後、中国で続く石炭火力発電所の増設が世界の環境目標達成に向けた能力を「取り消す」恐れがあると警告した。（写真は中国の王毅外相）
　米中両国はここ数か月、中国の人権問題や新型コロナウイルスへの初期対応をめぐり非難の応酬を繰り広げ、緊張を高めている。中国は、関係悪化により環境問題での協力に支障が出る可能性があると強調していた。中国は２０３０年までに石炭消費量を減らすと宣言しているが、昨年新設した石炭火力発電所の総容量は３８．４ギガワットで、他の国々の合計の３倍以上となった。
　中国東部・天津を訪問したケリー氏は２日夜、記者らに対し、米国は「気候危機に対する世界の取り組みにとって、石炭火力発電所の増設が大きな課題となる」との立場を明確にしてきたと説明。中国による石炭火力発電所の新設計画は「２０５０年までに（温暖化ガス排出量の）実質ゼロを達成するための世界の能力を取り消す」可能性があるとし、中国との協議は「非常に建設的」で、この問題に関して「非常に率直」な意見を伝えたと述べた。
　ケリー氏は今週、中国訪問に先立ち、日本を訪問。今回の外遊は、１１月に開催される気候変動枠組み条約第２６回締約国会議（ＣＯＰ２６）を前に、緊急を要する気候変動問題への取り組みに対する支持を取り付ける狙いがある。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2021/09/03-13:32）

US climate envoy John Kerry warned Thursday that Beijing's coal building spree could undo global capacity to meet environmental targets, after holding talks with top officials in China.
Tensions between Beijing and Washington have soared in recent months with the two sides trading barbs on China's human rights record and its initial handling of the coronavirus.
Tackling climate change is among a handful of issues where the two sides had struck notes of harmony.
But Beijing has in recent months emphasised that environmental cooperation could be hurt by deteriorating Sino-US relations.
Kerry told journalists on Thursday evening that the United States has made it clear that the addition of more coal plants represents a significant challenge to the efforts of the world to deal with the climate crisis.
Chinese plans for new coal plants could undo the capacity of the world to reach net-zero by 2050, he said, adding that while they had very constructive talks he was also very direct on the topic.
Despite pledges to peak coal consumption before 2030, China brought 38.4 gigawatts of new coal-fired power into operation last year -- more than three times what was brought on line globally.
China has challenged the United States to fix relations with Beijing in order to make progress on climate change.
But Kerry urged the Chinese government not to let environmental cooperation be affected by tensions between the world's two biggest polluters, calling it a global challenge.
It is essential... no matter what differences we have, that we have to address the climate crisis, he said.
Foreign minister Wang Yi had told Kerry earlier in the visit that cooperation on global warming could not be disentangled from broader diplomacy between the two countries.
In a video call with the climate envoy, Wang accused Washington of a major strategic miscalculation towards China, according to the ministry statement.
It is impossible for China-US climate cooperation to be elevated above the overall environment of China-US relations, Wang said.
He added that the ball is now in the United States' court, and the US should stop seeing China as a threat and opponent.
- 'China can do more' -
Kerry visited Japan earlier this week before travelling to the northeastern Chinese city of Tianjin, in a tour aiming to drum up support for a major global summit to tackle pressing climate issues.
The 26th edition of the UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties -- COP26 -- in Glasgow in November marks the biggest climate summit since the 2015 Paris negotiation.
Kerry said he plans to meet with his Chinese counterparts again before the summit, to push for stronger emission reduction commitments.
The US envoy has repeatedly urged China to step up efforts to reduce carbon emissions.
We have consistently said to China and other countries.. to do their best within their given capacity, Kerry said Thursday.
We think that China can do more.
The country is the world's current largest emitter of carbon dioxide, followed by the United States, which has historically emitted more than any other nation to date.
While Beijing has promised to reach peak carbon emissions by 2030 and become carbon neutral by 2060, it continues to be heavily dependent on coal, which fuels nearly 60 percent of its energy consumption.
We have an opportunity to make a positive impact in Glasgow, Kerry said. It really depends on the choices that China makes at this point.