It is widely acknowledged that China is cementing its role in clean energy industries, significantly contributing to the global green transition as a responsible great power.

According to a recent article by MIT Technology Review, "China is the dominant force in next-generation energy technologies today. It's pouring hundreds of billions of USD into putting renewable sources... This investment has been transformational for the country's economy..."

Authored by Casey Crownhart, the article goes on to say, "The numbers don't lie: By a lot of measures, China is the world's leader in energy."

Crownhart analyzes how China is rising as a clean power behemoth with three charts.

"China is on an absolute tear installing wind and solar power," she says. By the end of 2024, China had installed close to 900 gigawatts of solar capacity, and this fast-paced development has carried on into 2025.

China's electric vehicle (EV) market is also booming, accounting for over 60 percent of global EV sales. Its customers include established markets like Europe and growing ones like Brazil.

Besides, EVs have also seen a growing demand in the domestic market. In the first half of 2025, China registered a record 5.62 million new energy vehicles, up 27.86 percent year on year, a record high, according to data released by the Ministry of Public Security.

In an interview with the journalist Walter Isaacson, Ford's CEO Jim Farley said the cost and quality of Chinese EVs is "far superior" to what he sees in the West.

An article from The New York Times (NYT) said, "Not only does China already dominate global manufacturing of solar panels, wind turbines, batteries, EVs and many other clean energy industries, but with each passing month it is widening its technological lead." China holds close to 700,000 clean energy patents, accounting for over half of the global total,  NYT added.

The meaning behind those numbers is more important than the numbers themselves.

The success of the green transition is steering China's economy toward high-quality development, while China's green technologies provide better options to address climate problems.

Reducing emissions has never been a more pressing issue than it is today, considering the more frequent extreme weather caused by climate change.

Thanks to its green tech boom, China is fulfilling its commitment to cut carbon emissions. The country saw its emissions decline in the 12 months up to May 2025, the BBC reported, adding that this was the first time emissions fell even as demand for power across the Chinese economy grew rapidly. "It is a moment to celebrate," the BBC said.

NYT noted that affordable Chinese-produced solar panels, batteries, and EVs have enabled many major economies — including Brazil, South Africa, and India — to shift to cleaner technologies. "That affordability is crucial for bringing down global emissions."

Crownhart echoed the view. Between 2015 and 2025, China has tripled its spending on renewable energy development, she wrote. "Looking ahead, China is still pouring money into renewables, storage, grids, and energy efficiency technologies."