From coal to clean: China’s green ascent and what it means for investors
key takeaways.
- China is now the global leader in clean-tech, from EVs to renewables
- Its strategy contrasts sharply with the US, which has rolled back climate commitments under President Trump
- China’s dominance is deliberate, long-term, and investment-driven
- For investors, there are opportunities but also potential risks, given the geopolitical environment and concerns over China’s broader sustainability credentials.
China is reshaping the global energy transition through clean-tech leadership. What does this mean for investors navigating a fractured, fast-evolving sustainability landscape?
A surprising frontrunner
Climate crossroads
Read also: How China has become the home of sustainability | Lombard Odier
Powering ahead
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investment solutions.
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Renewable reach
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Exporting influence
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The paradox of power
System change in motion
Investing with eyes open
1 https://www.carbonbrief.org/analysis-clean-energy-contributed-a-record-10-of-chinas-gdp-in-2024/
2 https://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/how-china-won-clean-energy-race-beating-the-us-by-carolyn-kissane-2025-06
3 https://www.the-big-green-machine.com/_files/ugd/9ba20e_bfc32a1d54d04591b8e92764a856bf36.pdf?index=true
4 https://350.org/press-release/press-release-analysis-shows-trumps-tariffs-will-not-stop-the-renewables-transition-but-they-will-drive-up-the-cost-of-living-even-further/
5 https://www.elibrary.imf.org/view/journals/002/2024/276/article-A003-en.xml
6 https://www.climatechangenews.com/2025/04/24/xi-commits-china-to-full-climate-plan-but-emissions-cutting-ambition-still-unclear/
7 https://www.iea.org/reports/global-ev-outlook-2025
8 https://www.iea.org/reports/global-ev-outlook-2025
9 https://www.iea.org/reports/global-ev-outlook-2025
10 https://assetfinanceconnect.com/byd-overtakes-tesla-in-europe-as-ev-sales-surge-in-april
11 https://insideevs.com/news/731206/byd-honda-nissan-sales-volume/
12 https://www.iea.org/reports/batteries-and-secure-energy-transitions/executive-summary
13 https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/04/opinion/trump-tariffs-china-evs.html
14 https://www.iea.org/reports/global-ev-outlook-2025/electric-vehicle-charging
15 https://trackingsdg7.esmap.org/
16 https://www.iea.org/news/massive-global-growth-of-renewables-to-2030-is-set-to-match-entire-power-capacity-of-major-economies-today-moving-world-closer-to-tripling-goal
17 Topical debate on The role of nuclear power in the energy transition, ETC Commissioners meeting, June 2025
18 https://www.elibrary.imf.org/view/journals/002/2024/276/article-A003-en.xml
19 https://www.elibrary.imf.org/view/journals/002/2024/276/article-A003-en.xml
20 https://www.oecd.org/content/dam/oecd/en/publications/reports/2024/10/green-industrial-policies-for-the-net-zero-transition_1e066699/ccc326d3-en.pdf
21 https://dialogue.earth/en/energy/why-chinas-clean-energy-need-not-fear-us-tariffs/
22 https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/china-pumped-over-100-bln-overseas-cleantech-since-2023-research-group-says-2024-10-02/
23 https://www.oecd.org/content/dam/oecd/en/publications/reports/2024/10/green-industrial-policies-for-the-net-zero-transition_1e066699/ccc326d3-en.pdf
24 https://www.weforum.org/stories/2023/01/davos-23-special-address-by-ursula-von-der-leyen-president-of-the-european-commission/
25 https://www.elibrary.imf.org/view/journals/002/2024/276/article-A003-en.xml
26 https://thecoalhub.com/china-consumes-almost-400-mt-of-coal-to-produce-liquid-fuels.html
27 https://www.iea.org/reports/coal-2024/demand
28 https://www.iea.org/reports/global-energy-review-2025/co2-emissions
29 https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ilab/reports/child-labor/list-of-goods/supply-chains/solar
30 https://www.eco-business.com/news/analysis-clean-energy-just-put-chinas-co2-emissions-into-reverse-for-first-time/
31 https://about.bnef.com/insights/finance/global-investment-in-the-energy-transition-exceeded-2-
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