China's climate landscape in 2025 presented a paradox of environmental challenges and energy transformation, according to official reports released this week. The National Climate Center confirmed 2025 tied with 2024 as the hottest year since records began, with an average temperature of 10.9°C amplifying weather extremes across the country.
Residents endured three months of intense heatwaves from June to September, particularly in central and eastern regions, while northern provinces faced unprecedented monsoon flooding. Western China recorded its wettest autumn in history, with climate experts describing the year's weather patterns as exhibiting distinct 'warm-humid' characteristics.
'The frequency and intensity of extreme events have created new challenges for infrastructure and disaster preparedness,' said Gao Rong, deputy director of the National Climate Center, during Thursday's Beijing briefing. The reports highlight both progress and obstacles in renewable energy adoption, with solar capacity growth offset by grid integration challenges during peak weather events.
While wind and solar generation reached new milestones, energy analysts note the climate conditions exposed vulnerabilities in storage systems and power distribution networks. These findings come as the Chinese mainland accelerates its transition to low-carbon energy sources while balancing growing industrial and residential demand.
