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Journal Article

Multilevel emission impacts of electrification and coal pathways in China’s net-zero transition

Authors
/persons/resource/Chen.Gong

Gong,  Chen Chris
Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research;
Submitting Corresponding Author, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research;

/persons/resource/Falko.Ueckerdt

Ueckerdt,  Falko
Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research;

Bertram,  Christoph
External Organizations;

Yin,  Yuxin
External Organizations;

/persons/resource/David.Bantje

Bantje,  David
Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research;

/persons/resource/Robert.Pietzcker

Pietzcker,  Robert C.
Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research;

/persons/resource/Johanna.Hoppe

Hoppe,  Johanna
Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research;

/persons/resource/robin.krekeler

Hasse,  Robin
Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research;

/persons/resource/michaja.pehl

Pehl,  Michaja
Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research;

/persons/resource/Moreno.Leiva

Moreno Leiva,  Simon
Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research;

/persons/resource/jakob.duerrwaechter

Dürrwächter,  Jakob
Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research;

/persons/resource/jarusch.muessel

Müßel,  Jarusch
Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research;

/persons/resource/Gunnar.Luderer

Luderer,  Gunnar
Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research;

External Ressource
No external resources are shared
Fulltext (public)

1-s2.0-S2542435125001266-main.pdf
(Publisher version), 3MB

Supplementary Material (public)

1-s2.0-S2542435125001266-mmc1.pdf
(Supplementary material), 4MB

1-s2.0-S2542435125001266-mmc2.pdf
(Supplementary material), 9MB

Citation
Abstract
Decarbonizing China's energy system requires both greening the power supply and electrifying end-use sectors. However, concerns exist that electrification may increase emissions while coal power dominates. Using a global climate model, we explore electrification scenarios with varying coal phase-out timelines and assess their climate impact on China’s sectors. A 10-year delay in coal phase-out could increase global peak temperature by about 0.02°C. However, on a sectoral level, there is no evidence of significant additional emissions from electrification, even with a slower coal phase-out. This challenges the sequential “order of abatement” view, showing electrification can start before the power sector is fully decarbonized. As long as power emission intensity drops below 150 gCO2/kWh by 2040, electrification can substantially reduce the carbon footprint of buildings, steel, and transport services, and along with energy-efficiency measures, it can avoid approximately 0.035°C of additional global warming by 2060.