China announced today that it is removing tariffs on coal imports, a measure that is likely to further increase the country's carbon footprint with the world's highest greenhouse gases.

The world's most populous country has promised to start reducing its carbon emissions by 2020 by 2030, but its energy balance is still based on 56 percent of coal, a particularly climate-damaging source of energy.

Customs said in a statement that tariffs on coal imports will be removed from May 1 to March 31, 2023. So far, this rate has been 3 to 6 percent.

The measure was taken in order to further guarantee the country's energy supply and development, the statement said.

Xi Jinping wants China's GDP to grow stronger than the United States in 2022

The Asian giant, which faced electricity shortages last year, has boosted coal production and ordered mines to produce as much coal as possible.

In 2021, ubiquitous coal-fired power plant projects were launched.

After all, coal consumption in the world's second-largest economy rose 4.9 percent last year.

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