Scientists say emissions from burning fuels like coal must ramp steeply down to protect Earth’s climate, yet there was an increase in electricity made from burning fossil fuels. China, India, Vietnam and Mexico were responsible for nearly all of the rise.
The report said some countries burned coal to make up for the loss of hydroelectric power they experienced when drought caused their reservoirs to dry up. This is an example of a vicious cycle — when climate change prompts the use of more of the substances that cause climate change in the first place.
Ehhh it’s a mixed blessing with China. The country’s power consumption increased by an average of about 1,100 TWh per year during 2012-2022, which is outpacing the newly-added solar and wind generation in the article by a factor of four. It’s great that they’re adding so much clean power, quite the opposite that they’re adding even more less clean power
Edit: I should add that these numbers don’t specify hydro or nuclear capacity added. Not all of the gap is fossil fuels