Russia-sized mystery in China's power sector that will hurt climate goals

Countries that have reached China's levels of per-capita electricity consumption (already on a par with most of Europe) typically see growth rates at less than half that level.

Here’s a new obstacle that could prevent the world finally turning the corner on climate change: Imagine that over the coming decade a whole new economy the size of Russia were to pop up out of nowhere. With the world’s fourth-largest electricity sector and largest burden of power plant emissions after China, the U.S. and India, this new economy on its own would be enough to throw out efforts to halt global warming — especially if it keeps on growing through the 2030s.

That’s the risk inherent in China’s seemingly insatiable appetite for grid power.

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