China has 48 operational nuclear power stations
China turns to nuclear for 2030 pledge
Reliance on coal will use up the national carbon budget, so nuclear will be needed to start reducing overall emissions
China’s reticence to abandon coal in the near-term—underscored by an official admission that its “clean and efficient use” will persist over the next five years—paves the way for balancing zero-carbon technologies. Nuclear power is therefore a prime candidate to help the world’s top polluter keep a promise to peak carbon emissions by 2030. Coal, the dirtiest fossil fuel in widespread use for power generation, looks certain to remain a major part of China’s energy mix this decade, judging by an outline of the 14th Five-Year Plan (FYP), approved last week at the annual parliamentary session in Beijing. The FYP, a policy blueprint dictating the country’s economic strategy up to 2025, did not in
Also in this section
28 November 2025
The launch of the bloc’s emissions trading system in 2005 was a pioneering step, but as the scheme hits 21 its impact as a driver of decarbonisation is still open to debate
18 November 2025
Vicki Hollub, president and CEO of Occidental, has been selected as the 2026 recipient of the Dewhurst Award, the highest honour bestowed by WPC Energy. The Dewhurst Award celebrates exceptional leadership, groundbreaking innovation and a lifetime of significant achievements in sup-port of the development and advancement of the energy industry.
11 November 2025
Transition policies must recognise that significant industrial demand for carbon will continue even as economies hit net zero
6 November 2025
After years of pursuing ideologically driven climate leadership, Western powers are now stepping back under mounting political pressure and rising populist opposition—prompting concern essential climate action could be sidelined
