China Hits 2024 Growth Target Of 5% Amid Stimulus Measures, But Challenges Persist

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

January 17, 2025

China’s economy grew by 5% in 2024, successfully meeting its official growth target of “around 5%” despite ongoing domestic and global hurdles. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, this growth was achieved following a series of stimulus measures introduced late last year, aimed at addressing both internal and external challenges.

A persistent property crisis, now in its fourth year, continues to weigh on the economy, with consumer spending remaining subdued as households prioritize saving amid economic uncertainties. On the global stage, China finds itself at odds with the US on issues ranging from advanced technologies to trade.

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The Chinese government’s efforts, including interest rate cuts, increased liquidity for banks, and a $1.4 trillion debt-swap program for local governments, began showing results in late 2024. Key sectors, such as industrial production, picked up pace as a result. In the final quarter of 2024, China’s GDP surged by 5.4%, exceeding expectations, with President Xi Jinping stressing the importance of hitting the country’s growth target.

Guo Shan, a partner at Hutong Research based in Shanghai, commented, “China’s Q4 data exceeded expectations, positioning the country to meet its annual growth goal.”

Looking ahead to 2025, Guo anticipates that China will aim for another 5% growth target, while Alicia Garcia Herrero, chief Asia Pacific economist at Natixis, notes that growth momentum might carry into the early part of the year. A strong export performance is expected as companies rush to ship goods abroad in anticipation of new tariffs under the incoming Trump administration.

However, Garcia Herrero also highlights the uncertainty surrounding China’s export outlook, which is complicated by rising geopolitical tensions. To further support the economy, the government may roll out additional fiscal stimulus, possibly allocating 1 trillion yuan ($137 billion) for social welfare initiatives and cash handouts to families with children, according to Hutong Research’s Guo.

He adds that Beijing is likely to announce a fiscal deficit target of around 4%, providing more funds for general public spending. “Whichever sector is lagging will likely receive additional support,” Guo says.

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Europe’s Deadly Summer Heat Exposed The Cost Of A Warming Continent

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

October 23, 2026

Europe experienced its deadliest summer for heat-related deaths on record in 2026, with an estimated 24,400 excess deaths linked to extreme temperatures across 30 countries. Researchers estimate that human-induced climate change was responsible for around 32,000 of the deaths attributed to heat in the study’s broader analysis, accounting for 65% of the total.

The findings highlight the growing public-health consequences of global warming, largely driven by fossil fuel use, as extreme heat becomes more frequent and severe.

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A Summer Of Dangerous Heat

Between June and August, heatwaves pushed temperatures in Western Europe to an average of 2.9°C above the 1991–2020 norm, with some days reaching 12°C above average. Nearly a third of estimated heat-related deaths occurred during a particularly intense heatwave between 17 June and 1 July.

“These numbers are a stark reminder that our hotter, more extreme summers are having an increasingly severe impact on public health,” said Dr Clair Barnes, a researcher at Imperial College London and co-author of the study.

The estimated toll exceeded previous peaks of around 29,000 deaths in summer 2022 and 28,000 in 2003 across the region studied.

How Researchers Estimated The Toll

Researchers modelled the relationship between temperature and mortality across 854 urban areas in the EU, UK, Norway and Switzerland, covering around 40% of the population in the 30 countries studied.

The analysis incorporated temperature records, age, socioeconomic conditions, environmental factors and access to healthcare. By comparing actual temperatures with those expected without human-induced warming, the team estimated the additional deaths attributable to climate change.

Final official mortality figures for summer 2026 are not yet available in many countries, and heat-related deaths are often underreported because their effects can be difficult to identify directly.

Older People Face The Greatest Risk

People aged 85 and over accounted for roughly half of the estimated deaths. However, the impact extended across age groups, with around 800 excess deaths among adults aged 20–44 and approximately 6,000 among people under 65.

Southern Europe experienced the highest mortality burden, reflecting hotter temperatures and other vulnerabilities, including air pollution, limited green space and unequal access to healthcare and heat-alert systems.

Italy, France And Spain Record Highest Toll

Italy recorded an estimated 13,303 heat-related excess deaths, followed by France with 7,268 and Spain with 6,824. Germany recorded around 6,340, while the UK saw an estimated 4,354 deaths.

In the UK, the heat also placed significant pressure on healthcare services. Andrew Hartle, Professor of Practice of Anaesthesia at Imperial College Healthcare, said demand during the summer resembled that of a severe winter virus season.

Cities Urged To Strengthen Heat Protection

Researchers say cities can reduce the risks through climate shelters, external shading and building retrofits, alongside measures to help residents avoid exposure during the hottest hours. Checking on vulnerable people, staying hydrated and following heat alerts are also important.

The researchers stress that adaptation must go hand in hand with reducing fossil fuel use to limit further warming. The findings underline that extreme heat is already a major public-health threat across Europe, with thousands of lives at risk each summer.

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