Energy and Climate
International flows of finance and technology from China are shaping the global landscape of energy infrastructure, with profound implications for climate change, the environment and local livelihoods.
The Global China Initiative’s program on Energy and Climate conducts research on the composition and impacts of China’s overseas energy projects. This work sheds light on political and economic factors determining energy choices by China and countries that borrow or receive financing from China. The program also aims to identify regional, country-level and institutional opportunities for shifting development finance and overseas engagement towards renewable energy sources.
Research Highlights
Energy and Climate – Latest News and Publications
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Resurgence to Retirement: Global Insights on Transitioning Away from Coal
April 28, 2026By Kaihui Song The year 2025 recorded the largest net addition to global coal capacity in over a decade, driven largely by China amid the country’s heightened energy security concerns. Recent geopolitical tensions, particularly the conflict in the Middle East, have... [ More ]
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Greening the Steel and Cement Used in China’s Global Infrastructure Projects
March 24, 2026China’s development finance institutions (DFIs), primarily the China Development Bank (CDB) and the Export–Import Bank of China (CHEXIM), have become central players in global infrastructure development. At the same time, China’s overseas infrastructure projects have come under scrutiny for their... [ More ]
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Weighing In: How Much Steel and Cement Go Into China’s Global Infrastructure Projects?
March 24, 2026By Cecilia Springer, Hanjie Wang and Ali Hasanbeigi When a new railway line connects cities in East Africa or a power plant starts operating in South Asia, many tons of steel and cement quietly shape the structures behind the contracts and... [ More ]
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Power Projects Face Climate “Double Whammy”
March 06, 2026By Xia Li A new power plant can look like a straightforward win for a fast-growing economy. It means more electricity for homes, hospitals, factories and schools. But our new study suggests the story is far more complicated. Today, every major... [ More ]
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Geopolitics, Domestic Political Economy and the Rise of Localization Policies in the Global EV Industry
February 13, 2026Governments around the world are reviving industrial policy to nurture nascent industries through multiple instruments, including tariffs, subsidies and localization policies. This shift is occurring amid intensifying geopolitical competition and weakening multilateral trade norms that are reshaping the global policy... [ More ]
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Is Geopolitics Opening New Doors for EV Localization Worldwide?
February 13, 2026By Hanjie Wang While trade tensions continue to dominate international headlines, the rapid growth of electric vehicle (EV) industry has attracted less attention. Yet this transformation is already having a ripple effect in emerging markets and developing economies (EMDEs). As governments... [ More ]
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Redefining Models for Global Green Cooperation: Lessons from China’s Emerging Partnerships
November 19, 2025By Mengdi Yue As climate, biodiversity and pollution crises intensify, the call for green transformation has become universal. Yet while the urgency is clear, how countries cooperate to achieve it is still evolving. Understanding the how is becoming essential as countries... [ More ]
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The Land Gap: How Conservation Can Make Sovereign Debt Crises Less Common
November 13, 2025By Rebecca Ray Globally, conserving nature is a key priority for protecting communities and economies from the catastrophic impacts of climate change. To this end, nations around the world have signed the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and committed to mobilizing $200... [ More ]
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GDP Center Round-up: 4th International Conference on Financing for Development
June 26, 2025By Samantha Igo As a record-breaking heat wave strains energy grids and risks public health across Europe, policymakers, activists and experts convene in Seville, Spain from June 30 to July 3 for the highly anticipated 4th International Conference on Financing for... [ More ]
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Lighting Up Africa: Chinese Development Finance’s Impact on Energy Poverty
June 23, 2025By Yan Wang and Yinyin Xu Energy poverty remains a persistent and widespread development challenge across Africa, where more than 600 million people, primarily in sub-Saharan regions, still lack reliable access to electricity. This situation accounts for over 80 percent of... [ More ]