China’s Renewable Energy Rise: Leading the Global Transformation

In 2017, then-President Donald Trump announced that the United States would withdraw from the Paris Agreement, prompting a swift response from world leaders. Canada, China and the European Union convened an emergency meeting to reaffirm their commitments to global climate action.

The meeting has since become an annual event, most recently in Wuhan, China. Australian Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen attended the closed session, joining climate ministers and senior officials from almost 30 countries to advance global climate negotiations ahead of the upcoming United Nations climate conference (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan.

China’s commitment to renewables is evident in impressive progress in the solar and wind sectors. The country has not only reduced the share of coal in electricity generation, but also increased production of low-carbon technologies. This shift signals that China’s greenhouse gas emissions may have peaked, a positive step for global climate health. Under this strategic initiative, China is quietly taking the lead in the global energy transition, an aspiration underscored by hosting climate action events and pushing for stronger international cooperation.

(Based on information from the agency.)