DOMINATED BY COAL

By backing off the U.S. commitment to address climate change, President Donald Trump leaves an opening for a chief economic rival, China, to expand its increasing dominance in the renewable energy industry. In reacting to Trump’s announcement that he was withdrawing the U.S. from the Paris climate accord, China reaffirmed its commitment to the landmark agreement and is poised to spend heavily in coming years on renewables.

Yet the world’s most populous country remains heavily reliant on coal to generate electricity and power its steel mills — a habit that could be hard to break without stifling its economic aspirations. Here’s a look at some of the trends and challenges that could shape China’s — and the world’s —energy future.

Notwithstanding China’s embrace of renewables, coal still dominates the nation’s fuel mix, accounting for 62 percent of total energy consumption in 2016. Coal production fell over the past several years, with a slowing economy as one factor.

In January, China announced the suspension or cancellation of plans to build an additional 100 coal-fueled power plants. Yet dozens more are still expected to be built and China’s also bankrolling plants in other countries. It’s by far the largest consumer of coal worldwide, producing 3.41 billion tons of the fuel last year — more than four times the volume in the U.S., the second largest coal consumer. Largely as a result, China is also the top emitter of greenhouse gasses blamed for worsening climate change.

Coal production is rebounding this year, up 2.5 percent during the first four months compared to the same period in 2016, according to China’s National Bureau of Statistics.

Trump cited China’s continued emissions as one justification for withdrawing from the climate accord, which the Republican said unfairly burdened U.S. industries. A Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman said Friday in response to Trump’s remarks that as a “responsible major power” China would continue to promote the Paris agreement and fulfill its obligation “100 percent.”