China Added 450 GW of Clean Energy in 2025

China added nearly 450 gigawatts of clean energy capacity in 2025, exceeding the rest of the world combined. The country now generates about a quarter of its electricity from wind and solar farms, and produces over 80% of the world’s photovoltaic panels. Beijing invested heavily in electric vehicles, with fossil fuel-free cars accounting for over half of all sales.

However, China remains the world’s largest emitter of carbon dioxide and continues to rely on coal, adding 20 gigawatts of coal-fired power in January and February 2026 alone. Its latest five-year plan lacks explicit targets for reducing coal consumption, despite commitments to peak emissions before 2030 and reach carbon neutrality by 2060.

Though China’s CO2 emissions fell slightly in 2025—the first decline in years—the country’s overall trajectory remains uncertain. New government guidelines released in April signal a willingness to control fossil fuel consumption, but do not include binding restrictions. Analysts continue to assess whether these policies will be enough to meet China’s climate goals.