China defies the climate and makes a record bet on coal
The Asian giant continues to build record numbers of new plants, which calls into question its climate commitment.
BeijingBeijing has taken giant strides in accelerating the transition to renewable energy with record investments in solar and wind power plants, but it hasn't abandoned coal. The Asian giant continues to build a record number of new coal-fired power plants to meet its energy needs. In 2024, 93% of all new coal-fired power plant projects worldwide were initiated in China, contributing 94.5 gigawatts. This trend continued in 2025, with new coal plants adding 161 GW. Currently, there are projects under construction and others that have been approved, with the capacity to produce 291 GW of coal-fired power, according to data from the Centre for Research on Energy and Net Air. If this forecast is ultimately realized, it will represent approximately 23% of the current coal-fired power plant fleet, a significant increase. Some experts warn that Beijing's persistent push to build new coal-fired power plants could lead to overcapacity and underutilization of existing plants, in addition to failing to reduce CO₂ emissions. Last year, nearly half of China's electricity generation still came from coal.
The People's Republic is the world's leading emitter of greenhouse gases, far ahead of the second-ranked country, the United States. A third of the carbon dioxide emissions released into the atmosphere come from the Asian giant. However, when considering population size and level of development (1.4 billion in China and 349 million in the United States), proportionally, the US population pollutes more and has been doing so for a longer period.
Carbon Neutrality by 2060
The Chinese government has pledged to reach peak emissions by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060. The continued opening of new coal-fired power plants calls into question Beijing's climate commitment, at the very least delaying the transition to decarbonization. Investment in new coal-fired power plants reached a critical point in 2022. The previous year, China suffered a severe drought and heat waves that reduced hydroelectric power output and caused major power outages. The temporary closure of businesses without electricity is still fresh in people's minds. Images of people taking refuge in the subway or in public buildings To withstand the high temperatures, many provincial governments have reactivated their coal-fired power generation projects as a safety measure.
The Chinese government is positioning itself internationally as a champion of the fight against climate change, in contrast to the United States and its denialist policies regarding green energy. This international stance has not yet led it to abandon coal, and Beijing maintains that it needs it to guarantee energy security and the country's development. The National Development and Reform Commission, the highest economic planning body, argues that coal is necessary to support the energy transition. It is estimated that China's energy consumption is increasing by around 5% annually.
Another factor maintaining dependence on coal is that local governments are reluctant to close power plants because it generates unemployment and triggers social unrest. Therefore, new, more modern, and less polluting power plants are being built, along with extending the lifespan of older ones, and reducing operating hours is being rejected.
Leader in renewable energy
China's reliance on coal does not diminish its efforts to implement green energy. Three-quarters of the world's solar and wind power capacity is being built in China. In 2024, the Asian giant installed 360 gigawatts of solar and wind capacity, representing more than half of the total installed worldwide. One example is the Talatan Solar Park, built at an altitude of 3,000 meters in Qinghai province, covering approximately 420 square kilometers. By 2025, China's photovoltaic capacity reached 1,080 GW, a significant leap from 45 GW in 2015. Currently, the country produces 60% of the world's wind energy. Last year, green energy industries contributed a third of GDP. In addition to solar and wind technology, this includes electric vehicles. The commitment to solar panels also has a commercial dimension. China is the world's leading producer and exporter. Eight out of every ten solar panels sold worldwide come from Chinese factories. Beijing includes nuclear power as a renewable energy source, and its commitment is significant, as it has become the country with the second-largest number of nuclear power plants after the United States.
China will finalize its energy roadmap in the 15th Five-Year Plan for the period 2026-2030, which it will present during the annual plenary session of the Chinese Parliament in March.