As It Boosts Renewables, China Still Can't Break Its Coal Addiction

Despite being a renewables superpower, China continues to permit and build new coal-fired power plants at a rapid pace. Analysts say the nation’s new 15th Five-Year Plan, unveiled in March 2026, will ensure further coal plant expansion and jeopardize China’s ability to deliver on its climate promises. In 2024, China accounted for roughly 93 percent of all new global coal construction. While China installed record amounts of solar and wind, its attachment to coal remains rooted in energy security concerns, particularly after power shortages in 2021 and 2022. The new plan sets looser ambitions for energy intensity and changes calculation methods, potentially masking a failure to meet previous carbon reduction targets. With 243 gigawatts of new coal power permitted or under construction, the risk of trillions in stranded assets grows alongside the risk to global climate stability.