Rapid decarbonization in the Chinese electric power sector and air pollution reduction Co-benefits in the Post-COP26 Era

Abstract

The 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) has promulgated pivotal climate change mitigation goals for our planet. Decarbonization efforts that align the COP26 goals are underway, especially in high emission sectors. Decarbonization plays a role in reducing air pollution from power plants because of co-benefits. This study proposes a new method to quantify the co-benefits of air pollution reduction by integrating two models, where the effects of reduced air pollution from end-of-pipe measures and climate strategies are disentangled. Results show that in a more rapid future decarbonization scenario in the Chinese electric power sector (International Energy Agency's Sustainable Development Scenario), climate strategies bring about 10–87 times more co-benefits of reduced air pollution than in a slower decarbonization scenario (International Energy Agency's New Policies Scenario). The fossil fuel use factor contributes the most to the additional co-benefits of air pollution reduction from decarbonizing. Substitution of non-fossil energy sources for fossil fuels plays a pivotal role in facilitating these co-benefits. Future decarbonization policies, such as increased end-use efficiency and generation efficiency in power plants can also reduce additional air pollution from power plants as they accelerate the decarbonization process.