China’s clean-energy revolution will reshape markets and politics

illuminem summarises for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on The Economist or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: China’s clean-energy revolution is reshaping both global markets and politics
• As the world’s biggest manufacturer, China is not only scaling its renewable energy capacity but is now deeply invested in global decarbonization
• With massive investments in solar and wind power, the country is accelerating its clean-energy transition, which has far-reaching economic and political implications

🔭 The context: By the end of 2024, China had installed 887 gigawatts of solar power capacity, nearly double Europe’s and America’s combined total
• In 2024 alone, the country used 22 million tonnes of steel to build wind turbines and solar panels—enough to build a Golden Gate Bridge every working day of the year
• This infrastructure push has powered China’s transition, contributing 1,826 terawatt-hours of wind and solar electricity, five times the energy of all of China’s nuclear weapons

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: China’s clean-energy investments are pivotal for the global fight against climate change
• As the world’s biggest emitter, China’s shift to renewables is helping to drive global efforts to reduce carbon footprints
• The scale of China’s renewable energy efforts makes it a leader in global decarbonization and sets a model for other countries to follow

⏭️ What's next: China’s continued dominance in renewable energy is set to reshape global markets, influencing energy prices, trade, and international climate policies
• As it leads in clean-tech innovation, the country will likely set the stage for an accelerated global transition to renewables, making clean energy more accessible around the world

💬 One quote: “The scale of the renewables revolution in China is almost too vast for the human mind to grasp.” – The Financial Times

📈 One stat: By 2024, China’s installed solar power capacity reached 887 gigawatts, nearly double the total capacity of Europe and America combined

See on illuminem's Data Hub™ the sustainability performance of clean energy industry players like JinkoSolar, NextEra Energy and Orsted

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