Uploaded November 2024 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Is China's lead in clean technologies insurmountable? How will the Trump presidency shape relations with China? And when will China's emissions peak?
Fatih Birol, head of the International Energy Agency, has said that 'almost every energy story is essentially a China story. But it's a complicated story that has been powered by vast supplies of coal. China's economy has grown rapidly, with per capita levels of energy consumption now matching Europe's, making it the world's largest emitter of greenhouse gasses.
At the same time, China has increased the share of electricity and total energy to around 28% thanks to a rapid uptake of electric vehicles and increasing use of electricity for heating domestically. If it continues on its current trajectory, it is likely to peak its greenhouse gas emissions from energy in the next few years, if it hasn't done so already. China is also playing an increasing role beyond its borders: In 2023, 20% of the global EV export market belong to China, and it dominates the battery, solar and wind industries.
This week on Cleaning Up, Bryony Worthington sits down with Professor Qi Ye, Director of Public Policy at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, who's had a ringside seat during China's rapid shift towards a clean energy economy. Together they unpack the complex dynamics shaping the global energy transition in China. Discover the remarkable scale and pace of China's clean energy transformation, the challenges of international collaboration, and Professor Qi's vision for a new era of climate leadership.
Leadership Circle:
Cleaning Up is supported by the Leadership Circle, and its founding members: Actis, EcoPragma Capital, EDP of Portugal, Eurelectric, the Gilardini Foundation, KKR, National Grid, Octopus Energy, Quadrature Climate Foundation, SDCL and Wärtsilä. For more information on the Leadership Circle, please visit https://www.cleaningup.live.
Links:
youtube.com/watch?v=Fu6giWzTxAY
youtube.com/watch?v=Xc7ItnBRqXI
youtube.com/watch?v=7hDtcVNrnDU
Chapters:
00:00 - Introduction
05:18 - Assessing Climate Risks
10:21 - China in the Global Energy Transition
12:49 - The China Story
15:09 - Competition vs. Collaboration
17:45 - China Backlash
20:25 - EV Strategy
23:06 - Where are EVs Selling?
24:30 - Oil & Emissions Peak?
27:50 - Tariffs and Distrust
29:57 - Security Concerns
33:46 - The Paris Agreement & COP
36:10 - Future of Climate Governance
41:43 - Youth Leadership
44:20 - Bilaterals
46:40 - China's view on Trump
49:00 - Rules of the Race
53:40 - Outro
Is China's lead in clean technologies insurmountable? How will the Trump presidency shape relations with China? And when will China's emissions peak?
Fatih Birol, head of the International Energy Agency, has said that 'almost every energy story is essentially a China story. But it's a complicated story that has been powered by vast supplies of coal. China's economy has grown rapidly, with per capita levels of energy consumption now matching Europe's, making it the world's largest emitter of greenhouse gasses.
At the same time, China has increased the share of electricity and total energy to around 28% thanks to a rapid uptake of electric vehicles and increasing use of electricity for heating domestically. If it continues on its current trajectory, it is likely to peak its greenhouse gas emissions from energy in the next few years, if it hasn't done so already. China is also playing an increasing role beyond its borders: In 2023, 20% of the global EV export market belong to China, and it dominates the battery, solar and wind industries.
This week on Cleaning Up, Bryony Worthington sits down with Professor Qi Ye, Director of Public Policy at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, who's had a ringside seat during China's rapid shift towards a clean energy economy. Together they unpack the complex dynamics shaping the global energy transition in China. Discover the remarkable scale and pace of China's clean energy transformation, the challenges of international collaboration, and Professor Qi's vision for a new era of climate leadership.
Leadership Circle:
Cleaning Up is supported by the Leadership Circle, and its founding members: Actis, EcoPragma Capital, EDP of Portugal, Eurelectric, the Gilardini Foundation, KKR, National Grid, Octopus Energy, Quadrature Climate Foundation, SDCL and Wärtsilä. For more information on the Leadership Circle, please visit https://www.cleaningup.live.
Links:
youtube.com/watch?v=Fu6giWzTxAY
youtube.com/watch?v=Xc7ItnBRqXI
youtube.com/watch?v=7hDtcVNrnDU
Chapters:
00:00 - Introduction
05:18 - Assessing Climate Risks
10:21 - China in the Global Energy Transition
12:49 - The China Story
15:09 - Competition vs. Collaboration
17:45 - China Backlash
20:25 - EV Strategy
23:06 - Where are EVs Selling?
24:30 - Oil & Emissions Peak?
27:50 - Tariffs and Distrust
29:57 - Security Concerns
33:46 - The Paris Agreement & COP
36:10 - Future of Climate Governance
41:43 - Youth Leadership
44:20 - Bilaterals
46:40 - China's view on Trump
49:00 - Rules of the Race
53:40 - Outro
