Solving for Climate Lauri Myllyvirta: Is China a global climate leader?
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Sep 9, 2025 Lauri Myllyvirta, a Senior Fellow at the Asia Society Policy Institute and co-founder of the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, dives into China's complex climate story. He discusses how China balances its rapid renewable energy expansion with a heavy reliance on coal. The conversation highlights the country's electric vehicle revolution, changes in public perception towards climate, and ethical concerns in global supply chains. Myllyvirta sheds light on China's significant role in global climate solutions while navigating its intricate energy landscape.
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China Shapes Global Emissions Trajectory
- China drove ~90% of global emissions growth in the decade after Paris, making its trajectory decisive for global trends.
- Clean energy growth recently matched new demand, causing emissions to plateau since early 2024.
Unmatched Renewable Build-Out
- China has added over half of the world's new wind and solar capacity in recent years and now installs annually more than the whole world did a few years ago.
- The scale and speed of deployment are unprecedented and central to the global clean-energy build-out.
Leadership In Deployment, Not Yet In Emissions
- China leads on deploying clean energy but also actively promotes fossil fuels, so overall emissions stabilization falls short of climate leadership.
- Policymakers likewise stop short of calling China a global climate leader given continued fossil-fuel growth.