China's Coal Power Boom: A Threat to Carbon Goals

A recent report reveals that China started constructing nearly 100 gigawatts of new coal plant capacity in 2024, causing concern about the country's carbon reduction goals. This increase in coal capacity threatens China's advancements in renewable energy like solar and wind and suggests ongoing reliance on fossil fuels.

China's power sector initiated construction of nearly 100 gigawatts of new coal plant capacity last year, the most in almost a decade, raising serious questions about the nation's commitment to its carbon reduction goals, a report from clean-energy groups revealed Thursday.

This significant development risks undermining China's substantial progress in solar and wind power, which currently outpaces advancements made in both the United States and Europe. According to the report, clean energy is being added on top of, rather than replacing, an extensive reliance on fossil fuels.

The construction boom includes 94.5 gigawatts of new coal capacity and the resumption of 3.3 gigawatts of suspended projects. These moves threaten to solidify coal's dominance in the power system, with renewable energy utilization sharply dropping in late 2024. President Xi Jinping's climate targets, set for 2030 and 2060, might be compromised as China's coal construction starts led globally at 93% last year.