Unloading Coal Exposure: Where Are We and What Can Chinese Banks Do?

The document outlines a strategic framework for banks, specifically targeting Chinese institutions, to exit coal financing. It emphasizes that global coal combustion for power must drop from 36% in 2022 to 3% by 2035 to maintain the 1.5°C goal. The proposed framework consists of three stages: plan/review, decide, and implement, designed to increase transparency and manage risks across the entire coal value chain. The author argues that adopting these practices and collaborating internationally will provide Chinese banks with a competitive edge during the global energy transition.

• To maintain the 1.5 degrees Celsius goal, unabated coal use for power generation must decrease from 36% in 2022 to 13% by 2030 and 3% by 2035.
• The paper introduces a three-part framework for coal exit that is also applicable to other fossil fuels: a 'plan/review' stage using checklists, a 'decide' stage using a prioritization table, and an 'implement' stage using specific metrics.
• While Chinese banks have already restricted coal financing, there is a need for greater transparency, clarity, and a more comprehensive framework to improve their strategies.
• Effective coal exit requires a holistic approach that covers all financial instruments and the entire coal value chain, including indirect financing, which is currently an area lacking clarity for Asian banks.

APA

World Resources Institute (n.d.). Unloading Coal Exposure: Where Are We and What Can Chinese Banks Do? https://www.wri.org/research/unloading-coal-exposure-where-are-we-and-what-can-chinese-banks-do

Chicago

World Resources Institute. Unloading Coal Exposure: Where Are We and What Can Chinese Banks Do? n.d. https://www.wri.org/research/unloading-coal-exposure-where-are-we-and-what-can-chinese-banks-do.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=World Resources Institute |title=Unloading Coal Exposure: Where Are We and What Can Chinese Banks Do? |url=https://www.wri.org/research/unloading-coal-exposure-where-are-we-and-what-can-chinese-banks-do |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{worldresourcesinstitutendunloading, author = {{World Resources Institute}}, title = {{Unloading Coal Exposure: Where Are We and What Can Chinese Banks Do?}}, institution = {World Resources Institute}, url = {https://www.wri.org/research/unloading-coal-exposure-where-are-we-and-what-can-chinese-banks-do}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }