A joint study by CREA and PACS shows Chinese state-backed entities have cancelled two-thirds of planned overseas coal projects since 2021. Meanwhile, China-linked overseas operational renewable capacity reached 69.4 gigawatts by July 2026, with clean generation surpassing cancelled coal capacity in the UAE, Brazil, and Tanzania.
A joint assessment by CREA and PACS found that China has cancelled 67% of planned overseas coal power projects since its 2021 UN pledge. The 61.5-gigawatt capacity cut avoids an estimated 6.4 billion tonnes of lifetime carbon emissions. However, researchers noted that private Chinese capital continues to develop off-grid captive coal plants abroad.
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