China Briefing 20 August 2026: Oil and gas plan | Xi on climate change | Coal five-year plan
In this issue, Carbon Brief examines China’s five-year plan for coal.
Explore independent and nonpartisan research that meets the high standards of academic integrity at Columbia University.
Simultaneous pressures are colliding at the worst possible time, making power generation a central test of the country’s capacity to recover.
The centre of gravity of the global energy system has definitively shifted eastward, driven by rapid industrialisation, expanding urban populations, and rising
Data centers face growing local opposition as states impose moratoriums on hyperscale projects and grid connections. Communities can negotiate deals for tax revenue and jobs.
President Trump issued a proclamation on August 6 imposing tariffs on polysilicon and solar products.
By almost any measure, the world should be suffering a far more severe energy crisis.
The ongoing disruption of oil exports through the Strait of Hormuz has caused a substantial decline in China's crude oil imports.
Amid the surge in US gas demand coming from LNG exporters, there is a lack of equivalent new working gas storage capacity in the US.
India’s SHANTI Act opens the nuclear power sector to private participation while retaining state oversight of strategic assets. The move addresses limits of the state-led model and supports India’s goal of reaching 100 GW of nuclear capacity by 2047. Stronger regulation and private investment could accelerate nuclear expansion, strengthen energy security and aid decarbonisation.
The White House has just announced over $2 billion in new critical minerals, magnets, and battery investments.
Why U.S. economic models must account for climate change and the clean energy transition to improve policymaking, forecasting, and public investment decisions.
On June 22, the United States announced that it had signed a nuclear cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia. This type of agreement broadly authorizes
The economic and humanitarian consequences of the June 24 twin earthquakes in Venezuela continue to emerge.