In a positive development for the environment, China has exceeded its clean energy goal six years earlier than anticipated. President Xi Jinping set a target in 2020 to have at least 1,200 gigawatts of clean energy sources by 2030 and China has now reached 1,206 gigawatts, with 25 gigawatts of turbines and panels added recently, as reported by Bloomberg. This achievement is significant for China, the world’s largest polluter, which emits about 12.7 metric tons of emissions annually. Despite leading in clean energy investment globally, China still has a long way to go. Currently, solar and wind energy account for 14 percent of the country’s energy generation. China is actively working to increase this percentage, with projects like the $11 billion investment from China Three Gorges Renewables Group in a base using solar, wind, and coal for electricity generation. The plant in Inner Mongolia will contribute to China’s goal of 435 gigawatts for desert projects by 2030, although the impact of the coal component on emissions remains to be seen.
