China reaches solar energy milestone — what does this mean for the world's largest greenhouse gas emitter?

Drone point of view at the solar power station on the top of the mountain at sunset.

China's solar power capacity has overtaken coal for the first time, marking a major milestone in the country's rapid expansion of renewable energy.

China had about 1,288 gigawatts (GW) of installed solar capacity at the end of July, compared with 1,285 GW of coal-fired capacity, according to figures from the country's energy administration reported by the South China Morning Post.