China’s shift towards clean energy is facing challenges as the country accelerates the construction of new coal power plants, as reported by Reuters. In 2024, China began work on a significant 94.5 gigawatt coal project, the largest since 2015, which raises environmental concerns given the pollution associated with coal. Despite being the world’s largest coal consumer and the primary emitter of greenhouse gases, China had committed to reducing its reliance on coal in response to prior electricity shortages that have driven up coal production.
The reliance on fossil fuels like coal exacerbates climate change, while integrating clean energy sources can mitigate it. Although China aims to achieve a clean energy target of 1,200 gigawatts by 2030—having already made substantial progress in wind and solar energy—recent developments in the coal sector complicate these goals. Reports indicate that the new coal projects are intended to enhance energy security, but this push might interfere with global climate efforts and China’s long-term environmental objectives for 2035.
Overall, while there’s still interest in expanding clean energy, the growth of the coal industry remains a significant hurdle, raising concerns for both the environment and climate initiatives globally.
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