China warns that it will put its food and energy security before its plans to reduce carbon emissions

China’s Council of Ministers on Sunday outlined measures to achieve its goals of reaching peak carbon emissions by 2030 and neutrality by 2060, but said efforts should consider food and energy security.

The statement was made as a severe energy shortage in China threatens to overshadow Beijing’s efforts to curb greenhouse gas emissions as countries prepare for a new round of climate talks in Glasgow starting on 31 December. October.

China should “manage the relationship between reducing pollution and carbon and energy security, industrial supply chain security, food security and normal life of the population,” a cabinet document said.

The text also called for an effective response to the economic risks of the low-carbon and green transition, to “avoid overreaction and ensure safe carbon reduction.”

Analysts had hoped that the world’s largest greenhouse gas emitter could be persuaded to start cutting coal consumption before its current 2026 target, but severe power shortages have pushed the government to urgently increase production of the fuel.