Former US secretary of state John Kerry has called on countries across the world, including the United States, to follow China’s lead in transitioning towards clean energy, warning that most nations are lagging behind in the global fight against climate change.
In an interview with The Guardian on the sidelines of the 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31) in Turkey, Kerry said China had made significant progress in moving away from fossil fuels, while other countries were struggling to match its pace. He stressed that governments must accelerate the adoption of renewable energy and electrification to protect the environment as well as secure economic benefits.
Kerry, who also served as the US special presidential envoy for climate under former President Joe Biden, said China was currently the only country that had substantially accelerated its clean energy transition. He cautioned that the rest of the world was not responding adequately despite increasingly severe warnings from nature in the form of extreme weather events and environmental disruptions.
China has emerged as the world’s largest supplier of clean energy technologies, even as it remains the biggest emitter of greenhouse gases. Its growing dominance in the renewable energy sector is reflected in its manufacturing and export figures. The country’s clean technology exports crossed $220 billion in 2025, while it accounts for nearly 85 per cent of the global solar supply chain’s production capacity and around 80 per cent of lithium-ion battery production capacity. Nearly three-fourths of electric cars manufactured worldwide in 2025 were also produced in China.
The country’s growing influence in the green energy sector comes at a time when global economies are increasingly looking for alternatives to conventional energy sources. According to Kerry, the transition is being driven not only by environmental concerns but also by economic considerations and the need to reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels.
Referring to the geopolitical developments and disruptions in international energy supplies, Kerry said several countries had begun recognising the risks associated with excessive dependence on imported oil and gas. He pointed to China’s decision to strengthen its energy independence and said other nations had also started accelerating renewable energy deployment following the conflict involving Iran and disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz.
Kerry argued that renewable energy, supported by battery storage and transitional natural gas, was increasingly becoming a more economical and effective option than relying exclusively on fossil fuels. He said governments, including those with authoritarian political systems, would eventually recognise the financial advantages of cleaner energy alternatives as the costs of conventional fuels continued to rise.
He maintained that the global energy market was steadily moving towards electricity-based systems and that the shift towards cleaner power was becoming increasingly difficult to reverse. Countries that failed to adapt, he warned, risked losing economic opportunities while contributing further to the climate crisis.
China’s growing role in renewable energy is also expected to be a significant talking point at COP31, which is being held in Turkey. The country adopted a five-year plan in March 2026 that, for the first time, pledged to actively participate in and lead global climate governance. The summit is being closely watched for indications of whether Beijing is prepared to assume a more prominent leadership role in international climate negotiations.
China has also called for discussions on ensuring the free flow of green technologies amid growing geopolitical tensions and trade restrictions. The issue is significant given the tariffs imposed by the United States and the European Union on Chinese electric vehicles and solar products.
Experts believe China’s leadership in clean technology manufacturing could strengthen its diplomatic and economic influence, particularly among developing countries. Its renewable energy investments through the Belt and Road Initiative have expanded across countries such as Indonesia, Pakistan and Kenya. The value of its green energy agreements under the initiative during the first half of 2026 has already exceeded the total recorded for the entire previous year.
However, analysts believe Beijing’s willingness to take a leading role in global climate negotiations will depend partly on the level of international trust and cooperation it receives. China has traditionally been cautious about setting global climate targets and taking the lead in framing international policies.
At COP31, observers are expected to closely monitor China’s commitments on climate financing, renewable energy cooperation and support for a just transition, which seeks to protect workers and livelihoods as economies move away from fossil fuels. Another issue attracting attention is whether China will consider hosting COP33 in 2028.
The summit’s presidency has described COP31 as a conference focused on implementation and acceleration of existing climate commitments rather than merely announcing new targets. China’s response and its willingness to cooperate with other nations could therefore play an important role in shaping the future direction of international climate action.
