Report Says China Leads in Switching to Clean Energy, and CO2 Pollution

China has become the leading force in the world’s shift toward clean energy, according to a recent report by the London-based think tank Ember. The report highlights that China’s state-led investments now play a central role in determining how fast the world can move away from fossil fuels. 

The Chinese government has recognized that the old development model, which relied heavily on coal and oil, is no longer suitable for modern economic and environmental needs. Its goal is to create an “ecological civilization” that balances economic growth, social development, and environmental protection, a principle enshrined in the country’s Constitution since 2018. 

One of the main reasons China has taken the lead is its massive manufacturing capacity. The country produces 60 percent of the world’s wind turbines and 80 percent of solar panels. This scale has helped lower the cost of renewable technologies globally. Since 2010, China has manufactured three-quarters of the world’s solar modules, driving the price of solar energy to less than 10 cents per watt. Battery costs have also dropped significantly, making renewable energy increasingly competitive with fossil fuels. 

China’s investments are not just about energy. They are also strategic. The country has focused on becoming energy-secure and maintaining a competitive edge for its industries, which consume vast amounts of energy. To achieve this, China has built a strong domestic market for electric technologies and invested heavily in patents. In 2020, China accounted for just 5 percent of global energy patent applications. Today, that number has risen to 75 percent. 

Beyond its borders, China has expanded its influence by investing about $80 billion in renewable energy and electric vehicle facilities in emerging markets. In 2024 alone, China invested $625 billion in renewable energy, nearly a third of the global total. Its “new three” industries, solar panels, batteries, and electric vehicles, grew three times faster than the rest of the economy, adding $1.9 trillion to its output. These efforts have reshaped global markets, benefiting other countries by making renewable energy more affordable and accessible. 

However, despite this massive progress, China still faces a major challenge. The country has yet to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions. In fact, China and India were the main contributors to a global record of 37.8 gigatons of carbon dioxide-equivalent emissions in 2024, with China alone responsible for nearly one-third. While Europe and the U.S. have seen emissions decline, China’s energy mix remains heavily reliant on fossil fuels, showing that leadership in clean energy does not automatically translate to lower pollution. 

China’s approach combines strategic investments, industrial capacity, and export policies, creating a global advantage. Yet the country’s rising emissions highlight the complexity of transitioning to a truly clean energy future, even for the world’s biggest investor in renewable technologies. 

As the deployment of renewable energy ramps up, CO2 pollution could eventually peak and start declining. Companies like PowerBank Corporation (NASDAQ: SUUN) (Cboe CA: SUNN) (FRA: 103) have a role to play in boosting clean energy uptake by deepening their reach in different markets. 

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