By Shamim Zakaria
Lotus flowers in full bloom at the West Lake, Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province. (Photo by Xu Xun/China Pictorial)
Every time visitors from around the world come to see me in China, alongside their obvious awe for the country’s grand infrastructure, they invariably notice two things about the streets. First, the sheer number of domestic car brands gliding past in a blur of modernity. Second, the green number plates.
I often joke with them that once you spot a car model here, it’s almost guaranteed to vanish from sight forever. The variety is staggering. It’s like a showroom spilled out onto the streets. But this isn’t just about cars or consumer choice. It’s a symbol of something far more significant. It’s China’s bold pivot towards eco-friendly development, and its quietly unfolding green revolution.
As someone who has lived and worked in China for nearly a decade, I’ve seen this transformation up close. The country is attempting a radical environmental reboot. It’s not without flaws, but the ambition is undeniable. Valuable lessons can be drawn from this endeavour.
Green Gambit
Back in 2020, when China pledged to peak carbon emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060, perhaps many were sceptical. After all, this was the world’s largest carbon emitter setting what appeared to be an aggressive timeline. But look closer, and the gears of transformation are already in motion at a staggering scale.
Consider renewable energy. China’s installed capacity of renewable energy exceeded 1.45 billion kilowatts in 2023, accounting for more than 50 percent of the country’s total installed power generation capacity.
Then there’s the story of new energy vehicles (NEV), the most visible symbol of the green push. In 2023 alone, China sold over nine million NEVs, maintaining its position as the global leader in this sector. Walk down any street in Beijing, and the familiar hum of combustion engines is slowly being replaced by the quiet glide of electric motors. Domestic brands like BYD are not only dominating the roads but also going global. Charging stations are everywhere. Entire fleets of buses, taxis, and municipal vehicles have gone electric.
But China’s approach isn’t just about switching technologies. It’s about reshaping systems. China’s national carbon market began operation in 2021. Now, it covers over 2,000 power companies, making it the world’s largest carbon trading system by coverage. Through afforestation programs like Grain for Green, China has reversed decades of deforestation. And a new national park system — the largest in the world — is now underway to preserve biodiversity and act as a carbon sink.
Why it Matters to India
India has also made commendable strides in green development. It has set ambitious climate targets, achieving net-zero emissions by 2070 and sourcing 50 percent of energy from renewables by 2030. It ranks among the top five countries for solar energy capacity, and cities like Delhi have begun to embrace electric vehicles (EV) and solar rooftops.
But compared to China, India’s transition is still in its early innings. In 2023, EVs accounted for only 1.5 percent of total car sales in India. Charging infrastructure is limited. Coal still fuels about 70 percent of the country’s electricity, and though policy ambitions are high, execution often lags due to regulatory bottlenecks and fragmented governance.
This is where China’s experience offers lessons, not for imitation, but for inspiration.
China’s green shift has been backed by stable, long-term policy planning, from EV subsidies and R&D incentives to mandatory green quotas for automakers. India, by contrast, has seen frequent shifts in renewable tariffs and EV policies that deter private investment. A more predictable policy environment could catalyse faster innovation. Furthermore, China’s vast network of high-speed railways, smart grids, and renewable integration is a testament to how infrastructure can drive sustainability. India must invest in its grid to handle intermittent solar and wind, expand EV charging networks, and modernize urban transport systems.
China’s EV ecosystem didn’t just happen — it was built. From battery manufacturing to chip design, the entire supply chain was nurtured with state support. India has great potential here. Homegrown players like Tata, Ola Electric, and Ather Energy are promising, but they need scale, investment, and encouragement to compete globally.
Shenzhen, a city in China’s Guangdong Province, became the first in the world with a 100 percent electric bus fleet back in 2017. Indian cities must aim for similar transitions, from electric public transport to waste segregation, energy-efficient buildings, and green spaces. The focus shouldn’t be just on megacities, but also second-tier and third-tier cities.
Then there is environmental diplomacy. In an era of rising geopolitical tensions, climate could — and should — become a bridge between India and China. Already, under forums like the India-China Strategic Economic Dialogue, murmurs of cooperation have emerged. But what’s needed now are bold, joint initiatives on decarbonizing industry, protecting shared ecosystems like the Himalayas, and developing climate-resilient cities.
In conversations with Beijing residents, especially those who lived through the 2007–08 period, they often recall just how severe the pollution once was. But they’re also quick to note how dramatically things have changed. Today, we rarely feel the need to mention pollution at all. In most Chinese cities, blue skies are becoming the norm rather than the exception. This transformation isn’t accidental. It is the result of sustained policy efforts, technological innovation, and a clear national vision for environmental protection.
China’s experience shows that green development doesn’t have to come at the expense of industrial or technological progress. On the contrary, it can accelerate it. The rise of Chinese EV giants, the expansion of its renewable energy grid, and the large-scale restoration of forests offer not only a success story, but a valuable template worth studying.
About Author:
The author is an Indian journalist and commentator based in Beijing.
