In January 2026, during the World Economic Forum in Davos, the President of the United States, Donald Trump, criticized wind energy and claimed that China did not use it. However, the data shows otherwise: China installed more than 300 GW of clean energy capacity in 2025, compared to just over 20 GW in the United States.
China already produces most of the clean technology needed for the global energy transition:
- 80% of solar panels.
- 60% of wind turbines.
- 75% of electric vehicles and batteries.
United States: Regulatory Rollback
The Trump administration has reversed environmental protections and blocked the development of green energy. Among the most controversial measures:
- Withdrawal of funding from 66 international climate-related organizations.
- Promotion of new coal and gas projects, including the largest natural gas power plant in Ohio.
- High tariffs on solar panels, making production up to five times more expensive compared to China.
According to experts like David M. Hart (Council on Foreign Relations), these decisions are “reckless” and could leave the U.S. lagging in key growth industries.
China: Pragmatism and Expansion
Although China continues to invest in coal, it does so with a flexible strategy: the plants no longer operate as a constant base but as a backup. Simultaneously, the country is rapidly electrifying its transportation and leading the production of electric vehicles.
Analyst Li Shuo (Asia Society Policy Institute) highlights that China sees climate action as an economic opportunity, rather than a burden. Its style is “say less and do more,” avoiding international promises it cannot fulfill.
Industrial Differences
- Electric Vehicles: China dominates the market, while the U.S. risks becoming a “combustion island.”
- Competitiveness: there is at least a decade’s difference in solar, wind, batteries, and electric vehicles.
- Costs: producing solar panels in the U.S. is up to five times more expensive than in China.
Global Implications
China not only reduces its own emissions but also helps other countries advance in the energy transition through the export of clean technology. This reinforces its role as a potential climate leader, although without actively seeking international prominence.
The contrast is clear: while the United States bets on coal and gas under the Trump administration, China is rapidly advancing in clean energy, consolidating its industrial and technological leadership. The global energy transition depends on regulatory stability and strategic vision.
For experts, the decision to view climate action as an economic driver —and not as a burden— is one of the most significant changes in international policy in the last decade.
