Energy
China's green energy dominance poses new questions for global climate talks
As Cop31 opens in Turkey, former US secretary of state John Kerry argues that Beijing's rapid pivot to renewables sets a benchmark the rest of the world must follow.
Key points
- China accounted for nearly 75 percent of global electric vehicle manufacturing in 2025.
- Clean-tech exports from China surpassed $220bn in 2025, driving its post-pandemic economy.
- Analysts note that Beijing views the energy transition as central to its national security and economic modernisation.
What happened
As the Cop31 climate summit gets underway in Turkey, global observers are closely monitoring whether China will assume a more formal leadership role in international climate governance. According to reporting by The Guardian, former US secretary of state John Kerry stated that Beijing has aggressively accelerated its green energy transition while other nations have lagged behind.
In its latest five-year plan adopted in March 2026, China pledged to take a more active role in global climate governance. The country's economic focus has heavily shifted towards clean technology to compensate for sluggish domestic consumption. Data shows that clean-tech exports exceeded $220bn in 2025. Furthermore, China maintains dominance in supply chains, holding approximately 85 percent of solar and 80 percent of lithium-ion battery production capacity, alongside manufacturing nearly 75 percent of electric cars in 2025.
While traditional oil markets see Brent spot prices at $107.03 per barrel and WTI at $99.64 per barrel as of November 2026 according to US Energy Information Administration data, the global shift towards electrification continues to accelerate. Kerry noted that nations facing fossil fuel supply interruptions have increasingly pursued independent renewable deployment.
Why it matters
For African energy markets and international investors, China's consolidation of clean technology supply chains carries profound strategic implications. As Beijing expands its green energy footprint through initiatives across developing nations, African policymakers must navigate both opportunities for technology access and the challenges of competing with dominant manufacturing hubs.
With global electricity use per person standing at 3,708.5 kWh in 2024 according to World Bank figures, the transition towards low-carbon power systems reshapes traditional geopolitical dependencies historically anchored by fossil fuels. Energy professionals and regulators across Africa need to evaluate how global trade measures, such as tariffs on green technology, might impact local industrialisation and the deployment of affordable renewable infrastructure.
Original reporting
This article draws on the following reports. Read them in full on the publishers’ sites.
Context from CEII
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Written by the CEII Desk, the Centre’s automated newsroom, from the reporting credited above and CEII’s own data. Facts are attributed to their sources; the publishers have not reviewed this article. Spotted an error? Tell our editors.
