World’s coal power capacity rises despite climate warnings

A report by Global Energy Monitor found that coal power capacity grew by 2% last year, driven by an increase in new coal plants across China and a slowdown…Continue readingWorld’s coal power capacity rises despite climate warnings

Why are one-fifth of the world’s migratory species facing extinction?

About 44% of migratory species across the world are in decline while 20% the threat of all-out extinction, according to a new report from the United Nations. About 14%…Continue readingWhy are one-fifth of the world’s migratory species facing extinction?

Methane emissions from energy sector rose in 2023: IEA

Planet-heating methane released by the fossil fuel industry rose to near record highs in 2023 despite technology available to curb this pollution at virtually no cost, the International Energy…Continue readingMethane emissions from energy sector rose in 2023: IEA

More records tumble as China cold snap persists

More than 20 stations posted all-time December lows in the early hours of Thursday. They included Hohhot, capital of the northern Inner Mongolia region, where a reading of -29.1…Continue readingMore records tumble as China cold snap persists

China’s smog problem

China’s weather office has said “foggy and hazy” conditions are prevalent in the capital Beijing, the megacity of Tianjin, and parts of the provinces of Hebei, Shandong and Hubei,…Continue readingChina’s smog problem

UN chief urges world to ‘stop the madness’ of climate change

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged the world Monday to “stop the madness” of climate change as he visited Himalayan regions struggling from rapidly melting glaciers to witness the devastating…Continue readingUN chief urges world to ‘stop the madness’ of climate change

China is set to dominate the deep sea and its wealth of rare metals

The ocean floor is shaping up to be the world’s next theater of global resource competition — and China is set to dominate it. The sea is believed to…Continue readingChina is set to dominate the deep sea and its wealth of rare metals

France’s Total signs 27-year LNG deal with Qatar

TotalEnergies has signed a 27-year agreement with Qatar to secure liquefied natural gas, extending France’s commitment to fossil fuels beyond 2050 in one of the longest ever LNG supply…Continue readingFrance’s Total signs 27-year LNG deal with Qatar

Climate-driven extreme heat may make parts of Earth too hot for humans

If global temperatures increase by 2°C above pre-industrial levels, the 2.2 billion residents of Pakistan and India’s Indus River Valley, the one billion people living in eastern China and…Continue readingClimate-driven extreme heat may make parts of Earth too hot for humans

The Energy System of China

A profile of the energy system of China has been published on this site.Continue readingThe Energy System of China

Record rainfall causes flooding in Hong Kong days after typhoon

Record rainfall in Hong Kong caused widespread flooding in the early hours of Friday, disrupting road and rail traffic just days after the city dodged major damage from a…Continue readingRecord rainfall causes flooding in Hong Kong days after typhoon

China continues coal spree despite climate goals

China is approving new coal power projects at the equivalent of two plants every week. In 2022 the government approved a record-breaking 106 gigawatts (GW) of new coal-fired power…Continue readingChina continues coal spree despite climate goals

‘In a sauna’: Hong Kong’s laborers swelter as temperatures rise

Dressed in a full-body protective suit, an elderly pest control worker could last no more than 15 minutes spraying pesticide along a Hong Kong pavement before the summer heat…Continue reading‘In a sauna’: Hong Kong’s laborers swelter as temperatures rise

Global oil demand hits record and may move higher, says International Energy Agency

Demand reached an all-time high of 103mn barrels a day in June driven by better than expected economic growth in OECD countries, strong summer air travel and surging oil…Continue readingGlobal oil demand hits record and may move higher, says International Energy Agency

Anger in China over plan to use cities as ‘moat’ to save Beijing from floods

Chinese social media users have reacted angrily to comments from a local Communist party official suggesting that the city of Zhuozhou and other flood-hit areas near Beijing should be…Continue readingAnger in China over plan to use cities as ‘moat’ to save Beijing from floods

Streets become rivers as Beijing records heaviest rain in 140 years

Millions of people have been hit by extreme weather events and prolonged heatwaves around the globe in recent weeks, events that scientists say are being exacerbated by climate change.…Continue readingStreets become rivers as Beijing records heaviest rain in 140 years

Beijing swelters under record-breaking run of extreme heat

Beijing broke a 23-year-old record on Tuesday with 27 consecutive days of temperatures above 35˚C, the China Meteorological Administration said. The temperature recorded by Beijing’s benchmark weather station in…Continue readingBeijing swelters under record-breaking run of extreme heat

Heatwaves set more records across Europe, Asia and US

China Tourists flocked to a giant thermometer in China showing surface temperatures of 80 degrees Celsius (176 degress Fahrenheit) on Wednesday, the latest extreme weather sparking havoc and curiosity…Continue readingHeatwaves set more records across Europe, Asia and US

Deadly flooding hit several countries at once. Scientists say this will only be more common

Extreme rainfall accompanied by deadly flooding hit the United States and several other countries over the weekend and last week. In the U.S., flooding claimed five lives in Upper…Continue readingDeadly flooding hit several countries at once. Scientists say this will only be more common

China is pumping out carbon emissions as if COVID never happened. That’s bad news for the climate crisis

Carbon emissions from China are growing faster now than before COVID-19 struck, data show, dashing hopes the pandemic may have put the world’s most polluting nation on a new…Continue readingChina is pumping out carbon emissions as if COVID never happened. That’s bad news for the climate crisis

Last week the hottest worldwide on record: UN

“The world just had the hottest week on record, according to preliminary data,” the WMO said in a statement, after climate change and the early stages of the El…Continue readingLast week the hottest worldwide on record: UN

Beijing issues highest heat alert as north China swelters

China issued its highest-level heat alert for northern parts of the country on Friday as the capital baked in temperatures hovering around 40˚C (104˚F). A day earlier Beijing logged…Continue readingBeijing issues highest heat alert as north China swelters

China expands Shenhai-1 gas field in South China Sea with eye on Greater Bay Area energy transition

Shenhai-1 marks China’s first independently developed ultra-deepwater energy station, which has become operational in June 2021. The second phase of Shenhai-1 will boost peak annual output of the gas…Continue readingChina expands Shenhai-1 gas field in South China Sea with eye on Greater Bay Area energy transition

Qatar strikes second big LNG supply deal with China

Qatar has secured a second huge gas supply deal with a Chinese state-controlled company in less than a year, in a sign of the energy-hungry Asia power rushing to…Continue readingQatar strikes second big LNG supply deal with China

Beijing roasts in record mid-June temperatures

Temperatures in Beijing hit a record for mid-June of 39.4 degrees Celsius (103 Fahrenheit) on Friday, China’s meteorological authority said, warning the public to stay indoors. More than two…Continue readingBeijing roasts in record mid-June temperatures

More than 90% of identifiable trash in North Pacific Garbage Patch comes from just six countries

The researchers were able to identify the country of origin for 232 objects, with the largest percentage being from Japan at 33.6%. China was next at 32.3% followed by…Continue readingMore than 90% of identifiable trash in North Pacific Garbage Patch comes from just six countries

‘Smart mines’ show coal deeply embedded in China’s future

Huawei said the new methods had increased output per shift by almost a third. According to official figures, China had 4,400 coal mines at the end of 2022. But…Continue reading‘Smart mines’ show coal deeply embedded in China’s future

China approves coal power surge despite emissions pledge: Greenpeace

Local governments in energy-hungry Chinese provinces approved at least 20.45 gigawatts (GW) of coal-fired power in the first three months of 2023, Greenpeace said. That is more than double…Continue readingChina approves coal power surge despite emissions pledge: Greenpeace

Severe heatwave engulfs Asia causing deaths and forcing schools to close

Extreme temperatures described as ‘worst April heatwave in Asian history’ as records threatened in India, China, Thailand and Laos.Continue readingSevere heatwave engulfs Asia causing deaths and forcing schools to close

China ramps up coal plant approvals despite emissions pledge: report

A total of 106 GW of new coal power projects were approved in 2022—the equivalent of two large coal plants per week.Continue readingChina ramps up coal plant approvals despite emissions pledge: report

Study of Yellow River flooding over past 1,000 years shows human activities made flooding worse

Continue readingStudy of Yellow River flooding over past 1,000 years shows human activities made flooding worse

Counting the cost of Uganda’s east Africa oil pipeline – in pictures

Oil companies plan to pump crude oil from Lake Albert, Uganda to the coast of neighbouring Tanzania, with the goal of producing 1.4bn barrels over the next two decades.…Continue readingCounting the cost of Uganda’s east Africa oil pipeline – in pictures

Qatarenergy and Sinopec sign a 27-year 4 million tons per annum LNG supply agreement to China

QatarEnergy entered into a 27-year Sale and Purchase Agreement (SPA) with China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (Sinopec) for the supply of 4 million tons per annum (MTPA) of LNG…Continue readingQatarenergy and Sinopec sign a 27-year 4 million tons per annum LNG supply agreement to China

Uganda secures support from ACP-EU for East African crude oil pipeline

The Ugandan government has secured support from the African, Caribbean, Pacific -European Union (ACP-EU) for proceeding with the East African crude oil pipeline project (EACOP), a 1,443km (896 mile)…Continue readingUganda secures support from ACP-EU for East African crude oil pipeline

2022 droughts ‘virtually impossible without climate change’, study finds

Human-driven climate change made the droughts that gripped large swaths of Europe, China and North America this year at least 20 times more likely, an international group of scientists…Continue reading2022 droughts ‘virtually impossible without climate change’, study finds

China needs $17 trillion to meet climate goals

China needs up to $17 trillion in additional investments for green infrastructure and technology in the power and transport sectors to meet its goal of net-zero emissions by 2060,…Continue readingChina needs $17 trillion to meet climate goals

China reports ‘most severe’ heatwave and third driest summer on record

China recorded its highest temperatures and one of its lowest levels of rainfall in 61 years during a two-month summer heatwave. The average national temperature in August, 22.4˚C, was…Continue readingChina reports ‘most severe’ heatwave and third driest summer on record

China’s energy crisis sees the world’s top emitter investing in more coal

Two months of scorching heatwaves and drought plunged China into an energy security crisis. The energy crisis has seen Beijing shift its political discourse and proclaim energy security as…Continue readingChina’s energy crisis sees the world’s top emitter investing in more coal

China’s oil giants post record profits on surging fuel prices

PetroChina Co., Sinopec and Cnooc Ltd. each said they made historic amounts of money in the January-to-June period. PetroChina’s chairman said government stimulus packages are bolstering oil demand, while…Continue readingChina’s oil giants post record profits on surging fuel prices

‘Charismatic’ dugong sea mammal declared functionally extinct in China

A giant, gentle sea creature that belongs to the manatee family is now “functionally extinct” in China with no sightings recorded since 2008, a new study said. The dugong,…Continue reading‘Charismatic’ dugong sea mammal declared functionally extinct in China

Heatwave in China is the most severe ever recorded in the world

People in large parts of China have been experiencing two months of extreme heat. Hundreds of places have reported temperatures of more than 40°C (104°F), and many records have…Continue readingHeatwave in China is the most severe ever recorded in the world

Many countries continue to invest in coal

To understand why it is proving so hard to break up with coal, we worked with an international team of around 35 researchers to investigate the political economy drivers…Continue readingMany countries continue to invest in coal

Asia goes nuclear

Japan has begun restarting nuclear plants that have been idle since the 2011 Fukushima disaster, with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida pledging to get at least nine reactors up and…Continue readingAsia goes nuclear

Hotter, Longer and More Widespread Heat Waves Scorch China

More than 900 million Chinese, about 65% of the population, are living under some kind of heat warning. Temperatures have reached, or exceeded, the highs that have recently tormented…Continue readingHotter, Longer and More Widespread Heat Waves Scorch China

A year on, China’s CO₂ market fails to drive big emission cuts

China’s year-old carbon market has given more than 2,000 power plants a taste of emissions trading, but design flaws and data fraud have meant limited large-scale greenhouse gas reductions…Continue readingA year on, China’s CO₂ market fails to drive big emission cuts

China speeding up approvals for new coal plants

In the first quarter of 2022, Chinese regulators gave the green light to coal plants with a total capacity of 8.63 gigawatts. That is nearly half of the entire…Continue readingChina speeding up approvals for new coal plants

Mongolia says Russia-China gas pipeline will break ground in 2024

Mongolia expects Russia to begin construction of the “Power of Siberia 2” gas pipeline through its territory to China within two years, as Moscow moves to connect its Europe-supplying…Continue readingMongolia says Russia-China gas pipeline will break ground in 2024

Heatwaves in the US, China and Spain

United States: In Texas, temperatures hit triple digits Fahrenheit over the weekend, with some places breaking century-old records. On Saturday, Waco reached 108˚F (42˚C), smashing the 104˚F (40˚C) high…Continue readingHeatwaves in the US, China and Spain

Hundreds of thousands evacuated in China amid heavy rains, floods

Hundreds of thousands of people have been evacuated from their homes in southern China, according to state media, amid floods and landslides triggered by the heaviest rainfall the region…Continue readingHundreds of thousands evacuated in China amid heavy rains, floods

Global coal consumption: Spotlight on China’s consumption for power generation

“China’s influence on coal markets is difficult to overstate”, says the International Energy Agency’s Coal 2021 report, which was published in mid-December China’s overall coal use (i.e, power plus…Continue readingGlobal coal consumption: Spotlight on China’s consumption for power generation

‘Sleeping through extinction’: China urged to end delays to COP15 summit

After two years of delays, governments had been scheduled to meet in Kunming, China, for COP15 in late April to negotiate this decade’s targets to halt and reverse the…Continue reading‘Sleeping through extinction’: China urged to end delays to COP15 summit

With coal surge, China puts energy security and growth before climate

Chinese leaders pledged ahead of climate negotiations in Glasgow, Scotland, last November to peak national emissions before 2030 and stop building coal power plants abroad. A study published Friday…Continue readingWith coal surge, China puts energy security and growth before climate

China doubles down on coal

China is in the throes of a building boom to jump start its economy. The government of President Xi Jinping has “scrambled in recent months to try to reverse…Continue readingChina doubles down on coal

Death of the last known river dolphin in the transboundary pool in the Mekong between Laos and Cambodia

The Mekong dolphin population has long been IUCN red-listed as Critically Endangered. The last known river dolphin in the transboundary pool on the Cambodia-Laos border was found dead on…Continue readingDeath of the last known river dolphin in the transboundary pool in the Mekong between Laos and Cambodia

Chinese government to help run coal power plants at full capacity

China will help its coal-fired power plants run at full capacity, the government has announced, raising further alarm about the fate of Beijing’s climate pledges. It was decided in…Continue readingChinese government to help run coal power plants at full capacity

The great climate backslide: How governments are regressing worldwide

From the U.S. to China, in Europe, India and Japan, fossil fuels are staging a comeback, clean energy stocks are taking a hammering, and the prospects for speeding the…Continue readingThe great climate backslide: How governments are regressing worldwide

China’s coal production hit record levels in 2021

China’s coal production reached record levels last year as the state encouraged miners to ramp up their fossil fuel output to safeguard the country’s energy supplies through the winter…Continue readingChina’s coal production hit record levels in 2021

China fires up giant coal power plant in face of calls for cuts

China, under fire for approving new coal power stations as other countries try to curb greenhouse gases, has completed the first 1,000-megawatt unit of the Shanghaimiao plant, the biggest…Continue readingChina fires up giant coal power plant in face of calls for cuts

The East African Pipeline

TotalEnergies & China’s CNOOC will drill more than 431 wells in Uganda and pump the crude in a pipeline heated to 50˚C 1,450km (900 miles) to a port in…Continue readingThe East African Pipeline

Floods in China

Taiyuan, the capital of Shanxi, recorded rainfall of 185mm, about seven times the pre-2010 average for October. Shanxi is a land-locked province SW of Beijing. About 1.75 million people…Continue readingFloods in China