China’s transition to a low-carbon future has become a global asset — driving down renewable energy costs, supplying affordable clean technology, and offering a practical roadmap for developing nations.
By the end of 2025, renewables exceeded 60% of China’s installed power capacity, with grid-connected wind and solar surpassing coal for the first time. China added over 430 GW of new wind and solar in 2025 alone, and its carbon emissions may have peaked years ahead of its 2030 target.
Chinese firms now produce over 80% of global solar panels, 75% of EV batteries, and 60% of wind turbines. This manufacturing dominance has slashed costs: solar electricity fell 21% in 2024, enabling emerging economies to leapfrog fossil-fuel-dependent development. In Pakistan, Chinese solar panels are now included in wedding dowries — proof of affordability at the grassroots level.
China’s green investments under the Belt and Road Initiative reached a record $9.7 billion in the first half of 2025, funding wind, solar, and waste-to-energy projects across Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Through the UNIDO Centre for South-South Cooperation and the Africa Solar Belt Program, China is also sharing technical knowledge and building local capacity.
Critics who cite “overcapacity” or “security risks” miss the point. The world needs massive clean energy infrastructure to meet climate goals — and China’s manufacturing scale makes it affordable. As one analyst put it, “If Australia is serious about becoming a renewable energy superpower, China must be part of the answer.”
With the 15th Five-Year Plan targeting a 17% cut in carbon intensity and 25% non-fossil energy by 2030, China’s green transformation remains a shared global asset — not a threat.
