By Ewa Radomska
A solar farm in Dunhuang, northwestern China’s Gansu Province. China’s achievements in solar and wind power generation are significant, with these energy sources now representing a large proportion of national electricity supplies. (Photo from Unsplash)
Electric vehicle (EV) taxis queue at the University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital in Shenzhen, southern China’s Guangdong Province. Today, more than half of the new cars sold in China are electric or hybrid. (Photo from Unsplash)
Global climate change poses a serious threat to the security of the global ecosystem and the socio-economic development of countries. China has actively addressed the impacts of climate change and assessed it as an important starting point for further high-quality economic development, high-level environmental protection, and building an ecological civilization. The country has integrated climate change into national economic and social development plans, emphasized climate change mitigation and adaptation, and accelerated action through legal, administrative, technical, market and other measures.
China played a constructive role in finalizing the Paris Agreement and negotiating its implementation. The country is not seeking global climate leadership by making commitments that could undermine economic growth and development. Instead, China is positioning itself as an advocate of concerted efforts by the international community to achieve global climate goals through significant Chinese contributions. A global transition to low-carbon, climate-friendly development is not possible without its participation. Controlling carbon consumption is key to reducing carbon emissions and meeting climate change targets. China has committed to peaking carbon dioxide emissions by 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2060. In recent years, the country has stepped up efforts to promote low-carbon development by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, enhancing climate resilience, and continuously improving systems and mechanisms. China has become an important player in global efforts to foster green, low-carbon, and sustainable development.
China’s achievements in solar and wind power generation are significant, with these energy sources now representing a large proportion of the national electricity supply. Similarly, electrification of land transport has shown remarkable progress, as demonstrated by the growing demand for electric cars, with more than half of new cars sold in China now electric or hybrid. However, it will take longer to decarbonize industry, shipping, and civil aviation. China’s industrial sector accounts for more than half of global production of many key bulk materials such as steel, aluminum, and cement, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). As a dominant player in global industrial production, China will significantly influence global energy transition trajectories and consumption patterns through its decarbonization efforts in key sectors. The key to decarbonization is to continue clean energy deployment across the industrial value chain through transitioning to self-sufficiency and green energy trading.
Global demand for transformational critical materials and for capital goods relevant to the transition to a low-carbon, climate-resilient economy is growing. Production of many critical minerals for energy transition is more geographically concentrated than that of fossil fuels. China is the world’s leading producer of capital goods relevant to the transition to a low-carbon economy. China is building 339 gigawatts (GW) of utility-scale wind and solar, or 64 percent of the global total, a 2024 report from U.S.-based think tank Global Energy Monitor found. That is more than eight times the project pipeline of the second-place U.S., with 40 GW. China’s success in global manufacturing and clean energy technology supply chains is the result of long-term industrial policies that include consistent government support, investment in highly integrated clean energy supply chains, local innovation, and significant economies of scale. This has helped drive down technology costs and ultimately empowered China to become a leading exporter of clean energy technologies such as lithium-ion batteries and photovoltaics. The geographical and market concentration of production in certain regions explains the international focus on supplier diversification and the location of production networks in different countries, which is important for increasing the resilience of supply chains. This implies a need to build partnerships between developed and developing countries. Investment opportunities can only be realized through joint efforts to close the significant financing gaps required for the transition to a low-carbon economy, for example by helping countries build local production capacity to meet growing energy demand.
Coping with the impacts of climate change and investing in the transition to a low-carbon, climate-resilient future is a particular challenge for developing countries. Given their limited capacities and resources, they need the support of the international community. Over the past two decades, China has increased its presence in the Global South. Chinese development finance and investment related to large-scale infrastructure projects in Africa, Asia, and Latin America have contributed to the development of transport, industrial, and energy infrastructure in these regions. China is a major force in global energy investment and finance, both domestically and internationally, particularly in developing countries, through institutions such as the China Development Bank and the Export-Import Bank of China.
China has taken steps to integrate environmental concerns into its international cooperation strategies. At the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in October 2023, China announced that it will implement the Green Investment Principles for the Belt and Road, and provide 100,000 training opportunities for partner countries by 2030. Recent trends indicate a shift towards clean energy initiatives. According to the IEA’s 2024 report, in Africa and developing Asia, Chinese investment in clean energy far exceeds that in fossil fuels, even excluding investment in transport, with the largest amounts going to renewables and other clean energy sources and to the grid. China is expected to continue efforts to decarbonize its overseas energy profile and facilitate the transfer of low-carbon technologies. By sharing knowledge, financial resources, and innovative technologies, Global South countries, with China’s support, can play a more prominent role in the global clean energy supply chain. China’s experience in managing the trade-offs between economic growth and environmental protection makes it a valuable partner for other developing countries facing similar challenges.
The global transition to a low-carbon economy is a long-term and costly process. It requires international cooperation; joint multilateral, regional, and sectoral initiatives; promotion of trade and investment that supports the diffusion, development, availability and uptake of goods, services, and technologies that support mitigation and adaptation in both developed and developing countries; and formation of alliances and partnerships to support climate action, transformation, and climate-resilient development.
Rivalry, political tensions, protectionism, declining trust between partners are common causes of difficulties hindering cooperation, especially between developed and developing countries. This is particularly evident in the strained relationship between the U.S. and China during Donald Trump’s second presidency. In contrast, developing countries are expanding and strengthening cooperation, such as ASEAN countries within the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership and BRICS countries. China’s collaboration with African countries and Latin American countries is also on the rise. The politically determined division among countries is not conducive to achieving the goals of the global transition to a low-carbon economy. Despite internal and external challenges, China is continuing on its chosen path of sustainable development.
The author is an assistant professor at the University of the National Education Commission, Krakow, Poland.
