Climate change intensifies low-carbon transition pressure in China's power system

China's power system is increasingly challenged in its pursuit of low-carbon transition under the carbon neutrality target. However, current studies often overlook the comprehensive impacts of climate change on the supply-demand balance and decarbonization pathways of China's power system, especially at the provincial level. This study addresses this gap by integrating the dual effects of climate change on electricity demand and supply into a provincial power system optimization model. The model achieves supply-demand balance across provinces through a cost-minimization approach. Findings reveal that climate change substantially intensifies the pressure on China's low-carbon power transition, leading to an estimated 20 % increase in total system costs by 2050. This cost escalation results from the combined effects of rising electricity demand, declining thermal generation efficiency, and renewable output variability. The analysis also reveals notable regional disparities, with southern and eastern provinces more affected by climate change than northwestern provinces. Incorporating climate change impacts into low-carbon power system planning provides theoretical support for regional strategies, emphasizing the need for targeted measures, grid flexibility, and climate-resilient infrastructure to achieve China's sustainable energy goals.