Climate & Environment

China Urges Global Shift to Green Energy as Climate Summit Opens

By Rebecca Bailey, Fiona Harvey

Former U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry told the Guardian that China is leading the world in moving away from fossil fuels and that the rest of the world, including the United States, must follow. Kerry said the upcoming COP31 climate conference, held in Turkey, could show whether China will finally take a leadership role it has long avoided. In March 2026 China’s latest five‑year plan for the first time pledged to “actively participate in and lead global climate governance.”

China’s green‑energy exports have become a key part of its post‑pandemic economic recovery. In 2025 clean‑tech exports exceeded $220 billion and are expected to grow again this year. China supplies about 85 % of global solar capacity and 80 % of lithium‑ion battery production, and nearly 75 % of electric cars were manufactured there in 2025. Kerry said that if other countries, including the U.S., do not embrace low‑carbon power and rapid electrification, they will lose out economically and worsen climate risks.

Kerry highlighted that China’s shift toward renewable energy was driven by a need for energy independence after disruptions in oil and gas supplies. He added that autocratic states without free elections would be motivated by China’s economic benefits to adopt low‑carbon growth. “Renewables, storage and transitional gas are cheaper and more effective than fossil fuels,” he said.

China has called for COP31 to discuss the free flow of green technology amid intensifying geopolitical conflicts, including U.S. and EU tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles and solar products. Li Shuo of the Asia Society Policy Institute noted that climate action is now a driver of growth, and China faces a question of whether it will step into a leadership role out of self‑interest.

The COP31 presidency has pledged the conference will focus on implementation and acceleration. China’s emissions have been flat or falling since March 2024, according to Carbon Brief. Kevin Tu of the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies said China views the energy transition as central to economic modernization and energy security.

The wars in Ukraine and the Middle East have underscored the geopolitical implications of a shift to green energy. Isabel Hilton of China Dialogue noted that the U.S. dollar’s role as the global oil trading currency gave Washington a “privilege” that is now weaker, while China’s dominance of clean‑technology supply chains further erodes U.S. influence.

President Xi Jinping describes China as a “doer and go‑getter” working for global development, and state media showcase Chinese renewable projects in countries such as Indonesia, Pakistan and Kenya. The value of green‑energy deals in China’s Belt and Road Initiative in the first half of 2026 already exceeds the total for all of 2025.

Analysts expect China to seek support from Brazil, India, South Africa and other developing countries concerned about climate‑related trade measures. Yixian Sun of the University of Bath said there is a mismatch between Chinese policymakers’ views on their role in global climate governance and international expectations. He added that the world would need to trust China more for it to take a leadership role.

Observers will watch China’s actions on climate finance commitments, support for a “just transition” framework, and whether Beijing will bid to host COP33 in 2028. For now, analysts say China would be satisfied with a COP that produces a cooperative outcome rather than a dramatic breakthrough.