How China’s Power Grid Really Works

S3E7 - How China’s Power Grid Really Works

Published: October 8, 2025

Duration: 1:12:53

China announced a new climate commitment under the Paris Agreement at last month’s United Nations General Assembly meeting, pledging to cut its emissions by 7% to 10% by 2035. Many observers were disappointed by the promise, which may not go far enough to forestall 2 degrees Celsius of warming. But the pledge’s conservatism reveals the delicate and shifting politics of China’s grid — and how the country’s central government and its provinces fight over keeping the lights on. 


On this week’s episode of Shift Key, Rob and Jesse talk to Michael Davidson, an expert on Chinese electricity a...