BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTRY'S RELATIONSHIP WITH SDG 7 

China presents an industrial paradox in relation to SDG 7. It is simultaneously the world’s leading force in renewable-energy expansion and the largest consumer of coal. China has rapidly expanded solar, wind, hydropower and nuclear energy, and achieved its 2030 wind and solar capacity target six years ahead of schedule. In 2024 alone, Chinese clean-energy investment exceeded USD 625 billion (International Energy Agency [IEA], 2025). 

At the same time, China’s enormous industrial sector and rapidly growing electricity demand continue to require large quantities of fossil energy. Coal remained responsible for approximately 55% of Chinese electricity generation in 2025, despite the rapid expansion of low-emission sources (IEA, 2026a). 

CURRENT CHALLENGES AND RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

China’s main challenge is therefore to reconcile industrial growth, energy security and decarbonisation. Renewable and nuclear generation expanded sufficiently in 2025 to contribute to a decline in coal-fired electricity generation. However, China still consumes more coal than the rest of the world combined, demonstrating the scale of its dependence on this resource (IEA, 2026b). 

Another challenge concerns the integration of enormous amounts of renewable capacity into the electricity system. Rapid renewable deployment has sometimes outpaced grid development, increasing the need for transmission networks, energy storage and smart infrastructure. China invested heavily in these areas while simultaneously continuing investment in coal capacity to guarantee electricity security (IEA, 2025). This combination makes China a particularly important case for discussing the tensions between economic development, energy security and the objectives of SDG 7. 

LIST OF REFERENCES 

International Energy Agency. (2025). World Energy Investment 2025: China. Retrieved September 7, 2026, from https://www.iea.org/reports/world-energy-investment-2025/china

International Energy Agency. (2026a). Global Energy Review 2026: Electricity Supply. Retrieved September 7, 2026, from https://www.iea.org/reports/global-energy-review-2026/electricity-supply

International Energy Agency. (2026b). Global Energy Review 2026: Coal. Retrieved September 7, 2026, from https://www.iea.org/reports/global-energy-review-2026/coal

International Renewable Energy Agency. (2026). Renewable Capacity Statistics 2026. Retrieved September 7, 2026, from https://www.irena.org/Publications/2026/Mar/Renewable-capacity-statistics-2026