China
As Xi reaffirms climate goals, China faces economic and geopolitical headwinds
President Xi Jinping stands behind China’s climate goals but tensions with the US and energy security concerns make them harder to meet
Mystery solved: Chinese elephant trek exposes conservation failures
A herd of “cute” wandering elephants went viral last year as they trekked across China, but UN researchers cite their unusual journey as cause for concern
China hit by longest and strongest heatwave on record
Millions of Chinese people are suffering as intense heat drags on for more than two months, bringing drought, power shortages, wildfires and crop failures
Factories shut down as heatwave hits hydropower in China’s Sichuan province
Tesla, Toyota and Foxconn are among the multinational companies affected by a cascading water and energy crisis
China responds coolly to US climate bill, rejecting a call to resume cooperation
China’s foreign ministry questioned the US’ ability to deliver on its promises, calling for more climate finance and an end to trade sanctions
Chinese court rules bitcoin mining harms the climate
A judge in Beijing quashed a bitcoin contract on the basis it was not in the public interest, citing incompatibility with China’s carbon neutrality goal
As Xi Jinping seeks more power, the world’s window into China’s climate action narrows
At a critical moment for Chinese leadership, Beijing’s “zero-Covid” policy is making it harder than ever for journalists and experts to access information
China’s ambitious rooftop solar pilot helps drive ‘blistering’ capacity growth
Across China, hundreds of local authorities are partnering with solar developers to cover a percentage of buildings with PV by the end of 2023
China rejects ‘major emitter’ label in talks to step up climate action
To bridge the 1.5C gap, countries agreed to set up a work stream to accelerate action this decade. But at Bonn climate talks, no-one can agree on what it should look like
After blackouts, China’s green goals take back seat to energy security
Blackouts and rising fossil fuel prices have made scaling up domestic energy production – clean or dirty – the priority for the Chinese government
China plans huge wind and solar power rollout in Gobi desert
The goal is to install 450GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030, more than twice the US’ installed wind and solar generating fleet
Cooling towers, fake snow: What the Beijing Winter Olympics says about climate change
The spectacle of fake snow and an old steel mill’s cooling towers has sparked climate debate among Olympics-watchers
‘Extraordinary progress’ – Beijing meets air pollution goals after coal crackdown
Social media protests and US direct diplomacy pushed authorities in China’s capital to clean up heavy industry and home heating
China ‘trumps’ the west by pledging larger share of IMF relief to African nations
President Xi Jinping promised to share around a quarter of China’s pandemic recovery boost with Africa, more than European and American countries
China-US announce deal at Cop26 to accelerate climate action this decade
In a surprise joint statement, the world’s two top emitters agreed to work together in a range of areas to keep the goals of the Paris Agreement “within reach”
Xi Jinping announces biodiversity fund to help developing nations protect nature
The Chinese president called on other donor countries to contribute to the $230 million fund for biodiversity at Kunming talks
China’s power crunch could fuel anti-climate backlash, analysts warn
Many media reports have linked the power cuts to environmental policies aimed at curbing energy intensity, when high coal prices are the real culprit
President Xi declares end to Chinese support for new coal power abroad
Climate campaigners are celebrating as an end to Chinese public backing leaves few sources of finance for new coal plants around the world
Chinese coal power investment slows, with 24 projects approved this year
Chinese provincial governments approved construction of 5.2GW of coal power capacity in the first half of 2021, analysis by Greenpeace has found
Record-breaking rain fills Chinese subway, drowning twelve people
Flooding in the central province of Henan can be linked to human influence on the climate, but Chinese media is not making the connection