> New coal construction is pretty easy to measure relative to emissions, and is a leading indicator suggesting future emissions are coming. It's not that simp

> New coal construction is pretty easy to measure relative to emissions, and is a leading indicator suggesting future emissions are coming. It's not that simple. * The power plants are running at lower capacities: https://www.sustainabilitybynumbers.com/p/china-coal-plants https://www.sustainabilitybynumbers.com/p/china-coal-plants * Not all coal is equal. High-volatile bituminous coals have ~5% less emissions: https://gaftp.epa.gov/ap42/ch01/s01/reference/ref_77%20c01s01_1995.pdf https://gaftp.epa.gov/ap42/ch01/s01/reference/ref_77%20c01s0... * Some of the new plants are "clean" (not actually clean, but produce less emissions): https://globalenergyprize.org/en/2024/03/29/china-remains-world-leader-in-clean-coal-fired-power-generation-technologies/ https://globalenergyprize.org/en/2024/03/29/china-remains-wo... * You can build newer, more efficient coal power plants (~45%) which slightly reduce the amount of coal you need to burn at older, less efficient coal power plants (~33%): https://www.google.com/search?q=how+efficient+are+newer+coal+power+plants+vs+older&sca_esv=0568c64b8556c91d&sca_upv=1&sxsrf=ADLYWIJw5tv6lcEj5kglNkYpUeiTwLNXAw%3A1725243015181&source=hp&ei=hx7VZoLKCKjEp84PjcjwkQQ&iflsig=AL9hbdgAAAAAZtUsl-Y7j57zvsgV1zF8O79Z0ru-_TEr&ved=0ahUKEwjCqcaIl6OIAxUo4skDHQ0kPEIQ4dUDCBk&uact=5&oq=how+efficient+are+newer+coal+power+plants+vs+older&gs_lp=Egdnd3Mtd2l6IjJob3cgZWZmaWNpZW50IGFyZSBuZXdlciBjb2FsIHBvd2VyIHBsYW50cyB2cyBvbGRlcjIHECEYoAEYCjIHECEYoAEYCjIHECEYoAEYCjIHECEYoAEYCkjtL1AAWM4ucAB4AJABAJgBpAGgAbYjqgEFMzUuMTW4AQPIAQD4AQGYAjKgAp8kwgIEECMYJ8ICChAjGIAEGCcYigXCAgoQABiABBhDGIoFwgILEAAYgAQYkQIYigXCAhEQLhiABBixAxjRAxiDARjHAcICChAuGIAEGEMYigXCAgUQABiABMICChAAGIAEGBQYhwLCAgYQABgWGB7CAgcQABiABBgNwgIFECEYoAHCAgUQIRirAsICBRAhGJ8FwgILEAAYgAQYhgMYigXCAggQABiABBiiBMICBxAhGAoYqwKYAwCSBwUzNC4xNqAHu6cD&sclient=gws-wiz https://www.google.com/search?q=how+efficient+are+newer+coal... * ~5% of the new additions replaced retirements.