China Projected to Eliminate Energy Emissions by 2051, Outpacing US and India
A study in RSC Sustainability indicates China could eliminate all air pollution and carbon emissions from energy use by 2051 with its current renewable energy deployment rate. In contrast, the United States and India are projected to achieve this milestone by 2148 and 2139, respectively.
China installed 372 GW of renewable capacity in 2024 and is on track to add 397 GW in 2025. The study notes that while countries like Laos, Estonia, and Lithuania may transition to 100% clean energy as early as 2036, nations like Iceland and Canada, despite high renewable shares, face slow expansion rates.
The research emphasizes that rapid clean power capacity addition is crucial, highlighting China's 60-GW hydropower project and declining battery storage costs. Mexico's renewable energy transition is lagging, with only 25% of its electricity from renewables, and its 2026 budget heavily favors fossil fuels over clean energy investments.
