cross-posted from: https://lemmy.sdf.org/post/39085412

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The global landscape of energy investment is experiencing a significant shift, with coal-fired power plants receiving unprecedented attention despite international climate commitments. Global approvals for coal-fired plants have reached their highest level since 2015, marking a dramatic reversal of the anticipated decline in fossil fuel investments.

China stands at the forefront of this coal renaissance, having commenced construction on approximately 100 gigawatts of new coal plants in 2024 alone. This massive expansion represents a capacity equivalent to the entire existing coal fleet of countries like Germany and Japan combined.

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In 2024, a “resurgence” in construction of new coal-fired power plants in China is “undermining the country’s clean-energy progress”, says a joint report by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) and Global Energy Monitor (GEM).

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This surge in coal investment presents a stark contradiction to global climate goals. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), coal remains the largest source of energy-related emissions, accounting for a staggering 45% of the global total. The continued expansion of coal capacity threatens to undermine international efforts to limit global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.

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