1. China plans to build 300 coal power stations [1]
2. Best performing economies have more coal, more growth and cheaper electricity [2]
3. What a data centre and AI boom could mean for energy [3]
4. Trump withdraws from Paris Agreement [4]
5. Trump provides pathway to maximize resource development in Alaska [5]
6. Trump places a halt on offshore wind power licences [6].
7. All fossil fuels grow significantly more than renewables [7]

Important Observations

USA and China are increasing fossil fuel consumption to drive economic growth and in anticipation of increased datacentre and AI demand.

There is a correlation between increased use of coal and GDP growth, and a reduction in coal consumption and declining GDP growth.

“The average GDP growth from 2015 to 2023 of these seven Asian nations was also high: Vietnam, 6%; India and China, 5.8%; the Philippines, 4.7%; Indonesia, 4.1%; Malaysia, 3.9%; and, Taiwan, 3%. In contrast, countries which have had a progressive reduction in their coal capacity from 2007 to 2023 — the US, Germany, Spain, the UK, Poland, Australia — have had low growth, except Poland with growth of 3.7% [2]

Figure 1 – Global Director Primary Energy Consumption, shows that global coal, oil and gas consumption have risen steadily over the past 25 years, despite climate agreements. Some reasons include:

• The global population has increased over the past 25 years from 6.2 billion to 8.2 billion people.
• It is expected the global population will peak at 10.4 billion people in the mid-2080s according to the United Nations [8].
• Per-capita increase in energy consumption as a global average from 4.19t/CO2/pp in 2000 to 4.86tCO2/pp at the end of 2023 an increase of 16% [7].
• Over the same period, Australia went from 18.56TCO2/pp to 14.21tCO2/pptCO2/pp a reduction of 23% [7].

(Note: tCO2/pp is an abbreviation for tonnes of CO2 emissions per person as an average).

References

1. Global Energy Monitor: “China’s coal power spree could see over 300 coal plants added before emissions peak” https://globalenergymonitor.org/press-release/chinas-coal-power-spree-could-see-over-300-coal-plants-added-before-emissions-peak/
2. International Energy Agency: “What the data centre and AI boom could mean for the energy sector” https://www.iea.org/commentaries/what-the-data-centre-and-ai-boom-could-mean-for-the-energy-sector
3. NPR: “Trump is withdrawing from the Paris Agreement (again), reversing U.S. climate policy”  https://www.npr.org/2025/01/21/nx-s1-5266207/trump-paris-agreement-biden-climate-change
4. High North News: “Trump Signs Order to Maximize Resource Development in Alaska” https://www.highnorthnews.com/en/trump-signs-order-maximize-resource-development-alaska
5. Reuters: “Trump halt on offshore wind power leases hits European companies”  https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/orsted-shares-down-17-us-project-stumbles-trumps-anti-wind-power-policy-hits-2025-01-21/
6. Business World: “More coal, more growth, cheaper electricity” https://www.bworldonline.com/opinion/2025/01/09/645399/more-coal-more-growth-cheaper-electricity/
7. Australian Financial Review: “Household hardship mounts as energy prices increase” https://www.afr.com/companies/energy/household-hardship-mounts-as-energy-prices-increase-20241202-p5kv72
8. MIT Technology Review: “The $2.5 trillion reason we can’t rely on batteries to clean up the grid” https://www.technologyreview.com/2018/07/27/141282/the-25-trillion-reason-we-cant-rely-on-batteries-to-clean-up-the-grid/#:~:text=But%20there’s%20a%20problem%20with,projects%20are%20designed%20to%20fill.
9. Rainforest Reserves Australia: “Queensland wilderness is facing an assault from “Queensland Renewable Energy Zones” policy” https://www.rainforestreserves.org.au/impacts-of-largescale-renewables
10. The Australian: “Dead sheep, locked gates, police complaints in high-voltage battle” https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/mining-energy/dead-sheep-locked-gates-police-complaints-in-highvoltage-battle-over-transmission-towers/news-story/4cd9cf95d89dca3538077d35d9c1d99c&ved=2ahUKEwiF6uSK7peLAxVpT2wGHXoYCgAQFnoECBsQAQ&usg=AOvVaw1U9AcwA651kliUXqF6Q6j1
11. Hart Energy: “Physics Wins’ – Scott Tinker on the Energy Transition’s Future”
    https://www.hartenergy.com/exclusives/physics-wins-scott-tinker-energy-transitions-future-207463