Shift Key with Robinson Meyer and Jesse Jenkins Have China’s Emissions Already Peaked?
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Jan 8, 2025 Lauri Myllyvirta, co-founder and lead analyst at the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, discusses China's emissions landscape. He explores whether China's coal emissions have peaked despite ongoing new coal projects. The conversation dives into the booming electric vehicle market and its implications for urban air quality, alongside China’s rapid renewable energy growth. Myllyvirta also addresses the structural challenges facing the country's transition to sustainable energy, highlighting the complexity of its policies.
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China's Impact
- China's emissions trajectory dictates global emissions trends.
- China leads in both clean energy and coal deployment and dominates materials production.
Clean Energy vs. Demand
- China's clean energy deployment, especially solar, has accelerated significantly since 2020.
- However, increased energy demand, particularly in manufacturing, offsets this progress, leading to a plateau in emissions.
Energy Addition vs. Transition
- Global emissions haven't decreased because clean energy additions meet demand growth, not displace fossil fuels.
- China's economic shift towards energy-intensive manufacturing hinders emission reductions despite clean energy growth.