China now burns more coal than every other country on Earth combined. 55.8% of all coal consumed globally. Record output of 4.83 billion tonnes in 2025. This is after the most aggressive solar and wind buildout in history. Demand is growing so fast that renewables add to the total rather than replace anything. Since 2000, China accounts for 82% of all global coal demand growth. The IEA doesn't even project coal demand to decline. Just "plateau." Every COP pledge, every net-zero commitment, every ESG mandate runs headfirst into this chart. China understood the assignment: build generation first, optimize later. The West got it backwards, restricting supply while demand keeps climbing. The result is energy poverty dressed up as environmental policy.