You might have heard that China still produces a lot of carbon pollution from burning coal — and, in contrast, that it is leading in clean energy. But there’s much more to know. These articles will give you a good sense of the situation as of this summer, especially as China compares to the U.S. The short version: It’s bad for the U.S. economy and influence, but perhaps good for the planet.
What is the situation for clean energy in China?
“Should the world follow China’s climate lead?” Mark Harris, Anthropocene Magazine, January 2024. Subtitled “Everything in China happens at scale. That can be good … or bad for the world’s carbon budget,” this older article offers a quick overview, with sections for China’s big vision, likely problems down the road, and what to keep an eye on.
“There’s a race to power the future. China is pulling away.” David Gelles, Somini Sengupta, Keith Bradsher, and Brad Plumer, the New York Times, June 2025. Announced as the first in a series, this excellent article focuses on how both China and the U.S. are acting in what they see as their nation’s geopolitical interests, with illuminating graphics. If you only read one piece from this collection, this is a good choice.
“Auto Shanghai 2025 wasn’t just a car show. It was a warning to the West.” Alistair Charlton, Wired, May 2025. This review is lively, informative, and both humbling and envy-inducing for American readers. Section title: “Things sure have changed.”
How did China begin to pull ahead in renewable energy?
“Why are solar panels and batteries from China so cheap?” Hannah Ritchie, Sustainability by Numbers, May 2025. This piece is quite readable and of general interest; it also addresses common misconceptions about China.
“How China came to dominate the world in renewable energy.” Christian Shepherd and Jinpeng Li, Washington Post, March 2025. Well done; clear and startling graphics; focused on economics.
“How China became the world’s leader on renewable energy.” Isabel Hilton, Yale Environment 360, March 2024. Although China’s fast progress makes this article a bit outdated, it offers some interesting backstory. Its author was the founder and former editor of the China Dialog website, now the rich, relevant, and very searchable site Dialog Earth.
What might China’s emergence as a renewable energy powerhouse mean for Americans? Opinion columns.
“We warned about the first China shock. The next one will be worse.” David Autor and Gordon Hanson, New York Times, July 2025. A big-picture view of the economic impacts of China on the U.S. under the current circumstances, by two economists who “pioneered research into how Chinese competition ravaged American manufacturing.”
“China is winning the trade war Trump started.” Max Boot, Washington Post, August 2025. Subtitle: “On many fronts, Trump is inadvertently aiding China’s anti-American dictatorship.” Focus on the tariffs as of August 4, 2025.
Deeper dives
“What’s going on with China these days?” and “What the FEOC?” David Roberts (Volts) interviewing China energy guru Lauri Myllyvirta (April 2024) and U.S. policy specialists Jake Higdon and Isabel Munilla (August 2025). Both are illuminating discussions with expert insiders. FEOC stands for “foreign entity of concern,” and it’s an important and unclear category for U.S. energy policy, especially as regards tariffs.
To stay up to date on what’s happening in China on the energy and carbon scene, you can follow the extensive bi-weekly summaries and links in the newsletter China Briefing from the folks at Carbon Brief. Here’s one from August 7, 2025. This one from March 6, 2025, touches on a wide array of key topics.
Carbon Brief has a useful glossary for the terms China uses to discuss climate-related policy matters. And it publishes some analyses, such as this one: “Clean energy just put China’s CO2 emissions into reverse for first time.” Lauri Myllyvirta, May 2025. Myllyvirta’s Bluesky account is also a good source of very current information.
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