China’s Big Move Into Renewable Energy: Good for the Planet, Hard for the U.S.

China is now one of the world’s biggest users and builders of renewable energy, especially wind and solar power — and that has important effects on the climate and on how the United States competes in clean energy. A recent discussion on KQED’s Forum highlighted this trend and what it means for both countries.

China Leads in Wind and Solar Power

Recent data show that China has rapidly become a leader in renewable energy:

• In 2024, China produced about 40% of the world’s wind energy — more than any other country.
• In 2025, more than a quarter of China’s electricity came from wind and solar power.

China is deploying enormous numbers of solar panels and wind turbines each year — sometimes adding more renewable energy capacity in a single year than most countries install over many years.

Experts on the KQED program pointed out that China’s renewable push is both large in scale and very fast compared with most of the world.

Where the U.S. Fits In

At the same time, the United States has been moving slower on clean energy:

Some critics say federal energy policy in the U.S. has shifted toward coal, natural gas and oil, which don’t reduce global warming as much as wind or solar.

Because China is building so much wind and solar power now, some analysts worry that the U.S. may fall behind in clean energy innovation and jobs if it doesn’t invest more.

One expert on the program said that if policies don’t change quickly, China could pull far ahead of the U.S. in clean energy deployment and technology — which not only affects the climate but also economic competitiveness.

Good for the Planet

Many climate scientists say China’s renewable energy progress is good news for the planet:

• More wind and solar power means less pollution from coal and oil when those clean sources replace fossil fuels.
• China’s push helps reduce global carbon emissions, the main cause of human-driven climate change.

China’s investments in renewables are being compared with earlier clean-energy efforts in other countries, and the scale is large enough to influence worldwide energy markets and climate trends.

Challenges and Trade-Offs

However, being good for the climate doesn’t automatically make China’s energy progress simple or uncontroversial:

• Some critics note that China still uses a lot of coal power even as it builds wind and solar, making its climate progress complex.
• China’s dominance in renewable manufacturing — such as solar panels and batteries — has created global markets that compete with industries in Europe and the U.S.

The forum guests also discussed how politics and economic strategy influence energy policies in both countries — meaning climate decisions are tied to global competition and national priorities.

Bottom Line

China’s rapid expansion of wind and solar energy is helping the world reduce emissions and fight climate change. But it also highlights a growing contrast with U.S. energy policy — where slower clean energy growth and continued reliance on fossil fuels may make it harder for the U.S. to stay competitive in clean-energy industries.

China’s large share of global clean energy production and use shows that renewable energy can grow fast and at great scale — but how the U.S. responds will shape not just climate outcomes, but economic and geopolitical strength in the decades to come.