Why heat waves are deepening China's addiction to coal

Written by Keith Bradsher China has an answer to the heat waves now affecting much of the Northern Hemisphere: burn more coal to maintain a stable electricity supply for air-conditioning. Even before this year, China was emitting almost a third of all energy-related greenhouse gases — more than the United States, Europe and Japan combined. China burns more coal every year than the rest of the world combined. Last month, China generated 14% more electricity than it did in June 2022, and the whole increase was generated by coal-fired plants. China's ability to ramp up coal usage in recent weeks…