Climate

[Big read] The deadly climate blind spots fracturing China’s illusion of control

Extreme weather in China is growing more frequent and destructive, exposing weaknesses in how vital information travels to the top and the public. Can warnings and the truth arrive in time? Lianhe Zaobao journalist Zhang Guanghui finds out.

Zhang Guanghui

23 Sep 2026

Will AI drink China’s farms dry?

China’s AI buildout is placing growing demands on scarce water resources in its arid west, raising difficult questions about the competing needs of data centres, farmers, ecosystems and food security. EAI deputy director Chen Gang explains.

Chen Gang

21 Sep 2026

China has led nearly 300 green initiatives. Is it a climate leader?

A new study reveals China has led 291 environmental initiatives since 2000. However, with questions remaining over their real-world impact, can Beijing truly lead as the US retreats from global climate governance? Lianhe Zaobao’s China news correspondent Lim Zhan Ting finds out more.

Lim Zhan Ting

01 Sep 2026

Seven minutes to disaster: How climate change exposed a Himalayan blind spot

A glacier collapse near the China-Nepal border triggered a catastrophic mudslide in just seven minutes, exposing gaps in monitoring and early warning as climate change raises the risk of extreme Himalayan disasters. Lianhe Zaobao associate China news editor Sim Tze Wei finds out more.

Sim Tze Wei

31 Aug 2026

[Video] Rare Hubei tornadoes expose China’s rising weather risk

Three rare tornadoes in Hubei exposed a stark new reality: China must prepare for increasingly complex extreme weather with better forecasting, more resilient cities and stronger disaster response. ThinkChina’s Yi Jina and Lu Lingming find out more.

Yi Jina, Lu Lingming

24 Jul 2026

Can China’s cities keep pace with climate change?

Heatwaves, floods and typhoons are becoming more frequent and severe across China. The pressing question is whether its cities can upgrade infrastructure and build resilience quickly enough to keep pace. Lianhe Zaobao correspondent Liu Liu looks into the matter.

Liu Liu

23 Jul 2026

One size fits none: Why China’s top-down disaster response must evolve

From tornadoes in Hubei to flooding in Guangxi and Typhoon Bavi threatening Zhejiang, China is confronting increasingly diverse climate risks. The challenge is no longer just rapid mobilisation, but adapting disaster response to vastly different regional realities. EAI deputy director Chen Gang analyses the issue.

Chen Gang

14 Jul 2026

‘China is beautiful’: What Trump saw — and what Beijing is building

In the wake of Trump’s recent visit to China, his comment on China’s beauty prompts a look at the Beautiful China initiative, referring to its efforts aimed at preserving and improving China’s ecological assets. EAI deputy director Chen Gang explores the issue.

Chen Gang

22 May 2026

China leads Northeast Asia’s nuclear buildout

Is Northeast Asia’s nuclear revival a response to the Iran war crisis, or the result of deeper forces already reshaping the region’s energy future? Australian researcher Genevieve Donnellon-May ponders the question.

Genevieve Donnellon-May

16 Apr 2026

Transition under constraint: China’s energy strategy in an era of geopolitical risk

China reaffirmed that it would increase the share of non-fossil fuels in its energy consumption and reduce carbon emissions per unit of GDP under its 15th Five-Year Plan. Achieving this would require a carefully managed transition. Australian researcher Genevieve Donnellon-May assesses how China is striking a delicate balance between decarbonisation, economic growth and energy security.

Genevieve Donnellon-May

07 Apr 2026

Trump is mistaken: China is a wind power giant

Contrary to US President Trump’s Davos comments on Chinese wind farms, China’s wind power is a central pillar of its energy transition, with wind farms dotted around the country’s northern and northwestern regions, and in recent times, along its southeastern coastlines too. But these efforts are not without its challenges, such as an entrenched top-down approach and the difficulty of turning wind capacity into efficiently used, reliably transmitted clean power. EAI deputy director Chen Gang shares his insights.

Chen Gang

12 Feb 2026

How gutter oil became a prized fuel for international airlines

Once scorned as a public health hazard, China’s notorious “gutter oil” or used cooking oil (UCO) has been recast as one of the world’s most sought‑after feedstocks for sustainable aviation fuel — fetching prices higher than conventional jet fuel as airlines rush to cut carbon and meet global mandates.

Caixin Global

06 Feb 2026