Multilevel emission impacts of electrification and coal pathways in China’s net-zero transition
Decarbonizing China’s energy system requires both cleaner power and electrification of end-use sectors. We find that while coal power dominates, rapid electrification does not significantly increase emissions, even with a slower coal phase-out. Nevertheless, a 10-year delay in phasing out coal could raise global peak temperatures by 0.02°C. Electrification, when paired with green hydrogen and energy efficiency, could help reduce emissions and avoid an additional 0.035°C of warming by 2060, challenging the sequential understanding of the “order of abatement.”
Authors
- Christoph Bertram (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0933-4395)
- Simón Moreno-Leiva (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9625-3955)
- Gunnar Luderer (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9057-6155)
- Michaja Pehl (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2349-6515)
- Robin Hasse (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1818-3186)
- Chen Chris Gong (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6406-6266)
- Falko Ueckerdt (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5585-030X)
- Robert Pietzcker (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9403-6711)
- David Bantje (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0005-8875-9496)
- Yuxin Yin
- Johanna Hoppe (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0004-6753-5090)
- Jakob Duerrwaechter
- Jarusch Muesse
Institutions
- Technische Universität Berlin (DE)
- École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (CH)
- Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (DE)
- Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (CH)
- University of Maryland, College Park (US)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Joule
- Published
- 2025-05-05
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joule.2025.101945
- Citations
- 5
- Primary Topic
- Environmental Impact and Sustainability
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 4.00
Funders
- European Commission
- Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung
- Tsinghua University
- National Development and Reform Commission
- HORIZON EUROPE Framework Programme