With a population 1.3 billion strong and annual GDP growth averaging nearly 10% since 1980, China’s expanding economy drives the need for a fast-growing domestic energy supply. With the world’s largest coal reserves, China’s national energy needs have historically been met by fossil fuels; in fact, the country builds, on average, one new coal-fired plant every week. Consequently, China recently overtook the U.S. as the world’s largest greenhouse gas emitter, accounting for 24% of global emissions. Due to the sheer size of its economy and its continued growth prospects, China’s forecasted incremental energy demand dwarfs that of other countries, accounting for 38% of projected incremental worldwide energy demand through 2030. Thus, a solution to the world’s climate crisis cannot be reached without leadership from China.