China is once again presenting itself as a global leader in renewable energy while simultaneously expanding its reliance on coal at a historic rate. In 2024, the country initiated construction on a staggering 94.5 gigawatts (GW) of new coal-fired power plants—the highest level of coal construction in a decade. This comes despite President Xi Jinping’s 2021 pledge to “strictly limit the increase in coal consumption” between 2021 and 2026, making it increasingly difficult to believe China’s claims of adhering to its carbon reduction commitments.

Meanwhile, China continues to push a narrative of clean energy dominance, emphasizing record-setting solar and wind installations. However, these advances are being layered on top of an entrenched and growing coal infrastructure, rather than replacing fossil fuels. The world is expected to take China’s claims at face value, even as the data tells a very different story.

Coal’s Expansion: The Hard Numbers

According to a report by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) and Global Energy Monitor (GEM), China’s rapid coal expansion directly contradicts its clean energy rhetoric. Not only did the country begin construction on 94.5GW of new coal capacity in 2024, but it also resumed work on 3.3GW of previously suspended projects. Furthermore, in the second half of the year, approvals for new coal plants surged to 66.7GW, a sharp increase from the 9GW permitted in the first half of the year.

“A substantial number of new plants will come online in the next 2-3 years, further solidifying coal’s role in the power system,” the report warns. This means that while China claims to be transitioning toward renewables, it is in fact securing coal’s role in the national energy system for decades to come.

The GEM/CREA report reveals that the driving force behind China’s renewed coal investment is the coal-mining industry itself. Over three-quarters of newly approved coal power projects are being financed by coal-mining companies or energy groups with coal operations. These investments reflect an effort to sustain coal demand through 2030 and beyond, despite the supposed shift toward cleaner energy.

In particular, China’s largest coal-producing provinces—Inner Mongolia, Xinjiang, Shaanxi, and Gansu—are leading the surge in coal plant construction. Meanwhile, the rate of coal plant retirements has slowed dramatically, dropping from about 13GW per year in 2020 to just 2.5GW in 2024. Rather than phasing out coal, China is actively reinforcing its dominance in the energy sector.

A Climate Hypocrisy Case Study

On paper, China appears to be making progress toward clean energy. By the end of 2024, its solar capacity had reached 890GW, and wind capacity had climbed to 520GW. However, these numbers mean little when stacked against China’s massive 1,200GW of coal power capacity.

Despite these renewable additions, coal remains deeply embedded in China’s energy policies. The report explains that provincial governments and energy providers have structured the system in ways that guarantee coal’s continued dominance. “Most power grids lock in coal-power supply through mechanisms such as medium- to long-term contracts for purchasing power and long-term coal supply agreements,” the report states, meaning that even when renewable energy is cheaper and more readily available, coal-generated electricity is prioritized.

Additionally, curtailment of renewable energy—when clean energy sources go unused due to system constraints—has been significantly underreported. Official figures place renewable energy curtailment at just 3.2% in the last quarter of 2024, but the GEM/CREA report suggests the real figure is closer to 5.5%. This means that rather than transitioning away from coal, China is actively suppressing the use of solar and wind energy in favor of coal-fired power generation.

China’s Role in Global Emissions

China’s coal expansion carries implications far beyond its borders. The country accounted for 93% of new global coal construction in 2024, cementing its role as the world’s largest emitter. Historically, China has argued that developed nations bear the greatest responsibility for climate change due to their past emissions. However, according to a 2024 Carbon Brief analysis, China’s cumulative historical emissions have now surpassed those of the entire European Union, making it one of the largest contributors to global warming.

At international climate summits, China continues to push for greater climate financing from wealthier nations while simultaneously expanding its coal infrastructure. Meanwhile, its annual emissions continue to dwarf those of the United States and the European Union combined. Despite these realities, China maintains its position as a developing nation in climate negotiations, shielding itself from greater accountability.

Can China Be Held Accountable?

If China is truly committed to its “dual-carbon” goals of peaking emissions by 2030 and reaching carbon neutrality by 2060, it must take tangible steps to reduce its coal dependency. The report outlines several actions that China must implement to shift toward a genuinely clean energy future:

• End all new coal plant approvals immediately – Without halting new coal construction, any claim to climate leadership is meaningless.
• Set an enforceable timeline for coal plant retirements – China must commit to phasing out its oldest and most polluting plants instead of prolonging their operations.
• Dismantle structural policies that prioritize coal over renewables – Government contracts and power purchasing agreements should no longer favor coal.
• Modernize its energy grid to fully integrate wind and solar power – Without infrastructure to support renewables, they will continue to be sidelined.

For too long, China has played both sides—expanding fossil fuel consumption while touting its renewable energy investments. The time for vague pledges and misleading statistics is over. As the world’s largest emitter, China’s actions will determine the success or failure of global climate efforts. The international community must demand transparency and real accountability from China—not empty promises that mask an ever-growing reliance on coal.