China started construction on nearly 100 gigawatts of new coal power capacity in 2024, the highest in nearly a decade, raising concerns about its climate commitments.
Ken Moritsugu reports for The Associated Press.
In short:
- China accounted for 93% of global coal power plant construction starts last year, adding 94.5 gigawatts of capacity.
- Despite rapid solar and wind expansion, fossil fuel generation remained high while renewables saw declining utilization.
- Government approvals for coal projects have slowed, but many previously approved plants are still moving forward.
Key quote:
“We urge China to refrain from starting construction on already-approved coal power plants to prevent further overcapacity, reduce emissions and align with its climate commitments.”
— Qi Qin, China analyst for the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air
Why this matters:
China’s aggressive expansion of coal power threatens to undercut both global climate goals and its own emissions reduction targets. Even as the country dominates in renewable energy deployment — installing record-breaking amounts of solar and wind capacity — it continues to approve and build new coal plants at a rapid pace. The International Energy Agency and climate scientists warn that phasing out coal is critical to meeting climate targets, yet China’s actions suggest that economic and political priorities remain a formidable barrier to rapid decarbonization.