IEA head: Beijing carbon goal 'welcome' but policies needed

Fatih Birol says China's emissions have already reached pre-pandemic levels

The IEA said China's emissions have now reached pre-pandemic levels as the country resumed economic activity after the virus came under control. © Reuters

KENTA SHINOZAKI, Nikkei staff writer

October 14, 2020 14:37 JST

LONDON -- The executive director of Paris-based International Energy Agency Fatih Birol said that while China's goal to become carbon neutral before 2060 is "very welcome," there are as yet no policies to reach that target, in a telephone interview with Nikkei Asia.

President Xi Jinping announced at the U.N. General Assembly in September that China "aims to have carbon emissions peak before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060."