🌐 NEW | Analysis: Global fossil power generation fell in March after Hormuz closure due to solar & wind growth ⚠️ Fall in gas-fired generation offset by large increases in solar & wind power, not coal w/CREA's @laurimyllyvirta.bsky.social energyandcleanair.org/fossil-power...

I’m loving all the people arguing now that Pakistan’s solar boom was inevitable and obvious, but nothing comparable could happen in other countries in future. It wasn’t obvious in 2022, when Pakistan saw no role for solar in fixing the energy import dependencies that had just sent it to the IMF! 🧵

My new piece tries to make sense of how the fantasy Axis of [Something Bad] caught on in DC despite being very silly. China seems weak because it can’t defend the (imaginary) Axis, so the Blob thinks that open aggression could work if they were at the helm. responsiblestatecraft.org/axis-of-auth...

China is highly dependent on Middle Eastern oil and gas. But its pivot to electrification and clean energy is helping protect the country from the fallout of the war in Iran.

In the latest webinar from ASPI and @creacleanair.bsky.social @katelogan.bsky.social and @laurimyllyvirta.bsky.social joined Qi Qin and @belindaschaepe.bsky.social to unpack China’s new targets, the coal pipeline challenge, and what to expect in the years ahead. 🌏⚡️

Great piece! US natsec fixation is a big obstacle here: easy to get excited about strategic goods like chips/critical minerals but hard to focus on health of the larger production ecosystem. And alarm about falling behind, instead of driving better policy, finds outlet in geopolitical aggression.

We are thrilled to issue the call for applications (global.upenn.edu/future-of-us...) for our fourth fellowship cohort, made possible by generous support from @carnegie.org and the Henry Luce Foundation. Applications are due March 17.

This @nytopinion.nytimes.com op-ed on rare earths repeats a misleading story: that China dominates these industries mainly because of lax labor and environmental standards. It sounds intuitive, but it’s analytically wrong in ways that matter for policy. 1/ www.nytimes.com/2026/02/06/o...

Canada and the EU are rethinking their approaches to Chinese clean tech. Meanwhile, some US firms are still seeking it out, despite myriad barriers. My takeaway in @thehill.com: for the US, full decoupling from China’s advanced tech is neither practical nor competitive. thehill.com/opinion/inte...

New from us - captive coal power plant projects linked to energy intensive industrial plants keep proliferating in Indonesia, jeopardizing the country's targets for coal phase out and net zero emissions, while also messing up energy planning.

Great piece. A related point I've heard recently is that, in contrary to most countries, China's domestic weakness (involution) is a strength internationally (more exports and influence) - but also makes its domestic prosperity and resilience even more dependent on overseas markets.

Interestingly, the USMCA contemplated the possibility of a member entering a free trade agreement w/ China. If any member did (and MX was seen as a much more likely suspect than CA), then the other two could cut them out of the USMCA. (But the current Canada-China negotiations aren't about an FTA)

NEW: I tracked all Chinese lithium battery factories announced or built in the past decade 𝗼𝘂𝘁𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲 China's borders. The truth is, companies like CATL & BYD are so technologically advanced that there's little international competition. European and Asian countries are welcoming them with open arms.

The Board of Trustees of Asia Society announced today that the Honorable Kevin Rudd (@mrkrudd.bsky.social), Australia’s Ambassador to the United States, will return to lead the Asia Society from its global headquarters in New York on March 31, 2026.

“Alternative technologies from Japan, Europe and South Korea were assessed but deemed substantially more expensive and less competitive for large-scale deployment in India, the people said.”

Ford is doubling down on its partnership with Chinese battery giant CATL to make grid-scale batteries. Could it be the industrial policy solution the US needs to cut reliance on Chinese imports? 🎁 link: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

The Paris Agreement turns 10 today, and Asia’s next decade will be decisive.🌏 See what our experts Li Shuo, @katelogan.bsky.social, @faamer.bsky.social, @taylahbland.bsky.social, Nishtha Singh & Betty Wang say about the region’s progress, remaining gaps, and priorities for the years ahead.

New from me: How can China meet its 2030 emission commitments after falling badly off track? The country will have to very substantially overachieve its clean energy targets and limit plans for runaway expansion of coal power & petrochemical expansion in the next 5-yr plan.

Can China turn its #cleanenergy dominance into green #softpower? In a new compilation from @asiapolicy.asiasociety.org, I attempt to parse how China’s cleantech sectors plan to sustain rapid growth while navigating geopolitical pressures in 2026: asiasociety.org/policy-insti...

Indonesia backpedals on retiring Cirebon coal power plant early reut.rs/4pt2F52

China has little incentive to position itself as a climate leader and risk assuming 'climate finance' obligations But China is still channelling large sums into climate-relevant projects around the world @katelogan.bsky.social + Lily Hartzell explain backchannel1.substack.com/p/chinas-del...

* Data centres are (still) not even close to the biggest source of electricity demand growth out to 2030 (but they're a big factor in the US)

“In 2024, China exported around $177 billion worth of clean technologies, and is set to exceed $200 billion in 2025.” - @katelogan.bsky.social, @asiapolicy.asiasociety.org + Center for China Analysis

On January 19, USAID was in line for bad but limited cuts. Project 2025 only called for cutting USAID back to 2019 funding levels. Then Elon Musk came in and three weeks later USAID was functionally eliminated. Millions of people will die and hundreds of thousands already have, mostly children

The last of EESI's COP30 briefings is tomorrow at noon EST! Panelists will explore multilateral efforts to reduce trade-related GHG emissions. Panel: 🚢 @whitehouse.senate.gov 🚢 Patrick McKenna, Climate Leadership Council More panelists below ⬇️

Ahead of #COP30, #China’s new climate targets add momentum but still fall short of Paris goals. Emissions are leveling off, yet coal use grows even as clean energy exports cut global emissions by 1%. 🇨🇳🌏 Watch our new webinar with the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) to learn more⬇️

Happening Monday.

In the era-defining US fossil fuels v China clean tech export race there's only one winner, reports @Bloomberg www.bloomberg.com/ne...

"While the West is distracted and divided, China is focused and surging ahead." In a new op-ed for the @nytimes.com ASPI's Director of the China Climate Hub @lishuoclimate.bsky.social breaks down Beijing's latest climate targets and what they mean. Read now⬇️

"China has aligned decarbonization with its economic growth strategy. In practice that means systematically building infrastructure, sophisticated supply chains and a predictable domestic market for clean energy." www.nytimes.com/2025/09/26/o...

'Beijing disappoints on ambition and misses a chance at leadership' - team at @AsiaSociety rates China's 2035 #climate target as 'careful balancing of ... domestic and international factors' asiasociety.org/poli...

If you want to understand the new #climate target of #China more deeply read this piece by @katelogan.bsky.social and @lishuoclimate.bsky.social unpacking #Chinas new #climate target - aka #NDC asiasociety.org/policy-insti...

NEW – Q&A: Will China and the BRICS fill the ‘leadership gap’ on climate change? | @anikanpatel.carbonbrief.org w/ comment from @yixiansun.bsky.social Jennifer Allan @jamesnorman.bsky.social Beatriz Mattos @katelogan.bsky.social Read here: buff.ly/WVyH1Y0

BBC interview with one of the Korea workers who was shackled and imprisoned. This was nothing but an American own goal. Attempting to blow up the largest economic development project in Georgia history. Billions in investment, thousands of jobs for Americans. youtu.be/fcwJtWU4fn4?...

NEW | Decoding #China’s upcoming climate targets 🌿🇨🇳 🇧🇷 President Xi Jinping pledged to announce China’s 2035 Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) ahead of COP30 in Belém in November. Here's what to pay attention to: ⤵️ @belindaschaepe.bsky.social @laurimyllyvirta.bsky.social

NEW: The first evidence of a solar take-off in Africa☀️✈️ x33 rise in Algeria solar panel imports in the 12 mths to June 2025, compared to previous 12 mths. x8 in Zambia x7 in Botswana x6 in Sudan x3 in each of Liberia, DRC, Benin, Angola, Ethiopia 🧵

We are delighted to invite applications for our new Program Manager position! This is a full-time position, with benefits, @upenn.edu. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis through Friday, August 29. The full job posting is available on our website at: global.upenn.edu/future-of-us...

The EU-China #climate statement is somewhat milquetoast, but it’s still significant. That the two economies have“broad space for cooperation in the field of green transition” is noteworthy given it is also the root of their trade tensions — as is their commitment to “drive a global just transition.”

Lots of commentary on the #ICJ advisory opinion on obligations of States in respect of #climate change. One thing I haven't seen discussed yet, which could have major implications for climate negotiations where developed or developing country status is key to so many obligations, is para 226:

In the past two years, with surprisingly little notice, renewable energy has suddenly become the obvious, mainstream, cost-efficient choice around the world.

Big news! New Security Beat has a new home at the Stimson Center. Since ‘07, we’ve amplified 1K+ experts on climate-conflict, health-security & resource diplomacy. To our incredible community of readers and contributors: Thank you. Risks grow—we scale. 🌍🔗 www.newsecuritybeat.org/2025/07/new-...

We continue our coverage of IRA repeal via the "One Big Beautiful Bill" with my latest dive into the Senate's new anti-China sourcing proposal. (aka FEOC rules.) As in the House version, this could effectively kill clean energy tax credits that aren't outright canceled. heatmap.news/politics/sen...

📺WATCH: ASPI's China Climate Hub hosts a discussion exploring China's #climate path amid trade tensions and global expectations. Featuring @katelogan.bsky.social, @laurimyllyvirta.bsky.social, and Anders Hove, with @lishuoclimate.bsky.social moderating the discussion.

'in 2024, Chinese companies exported approximately $177 billion of clean energy technologies and committed at least $58 billion to build new factories abroad for these products' Striking stat via @katelogan.bsky.social at the DC-based @asiasociety.org

In 2021, China joined the Kigali Agreement, and pledged to stop emitting HFC-23, a climate super pollutant 14,700x stronger than CO2. The latest atmospheric readings show China is way off track, @mckennapr.bsky.social & I report in our deep dive: foreignpolicy.com/2025/05/21/c...

New piece by @kyleichan.bsky.social, illustrating the world’s economic reality: www.nytimes.com/2025/05/19/o...

🌍 🚨 NEW | US embassy AQ data halt: On 4 Mar, the AirNow website reporting data from #AirQuality monitors at US embassies worldwide halted data sharing 🏛️ CREA calls on reliant countries to ramp up local monitoring to fill the gap👇

ASPI's Director of China Climate Hub and Climate Diplomacy @katelogan.bsky.social testified before the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission to discuss China's domestic energy challenges and its growing influence over international energy markets.

Read and watch her full testimony here: www.uscc.gov/hearings/chi...

Major good news! Xi Jinping of China 🇨🇳 confirms in closed door virtual meeting that #China will put forward a new #climate target covering all economic sectors and all greenhouse gases this year. This was confirmed by #Guterres after the meeting. 👉 webtv.un.org/en/asset/k17...