PCompared with previous Conferences of the Parties on Climate Change (COP), the conference held in Belém, Brazil, from November 10 to 21, had two distinct novelties: the absence of the United States, which has now become skeptical of climate change, and the enthusiasm of China, which now presents itself as a world leader in green economics, which managed to make us forget that this country is still the biggest polluter on earth.
In just a few years, China’s discourse has changed completely. When the Paris agreement was signed ten years ago, they refused to commit to greenhouse gas reductions. According to Beijing, this global warming event is a ploy by the West to weaken and obstruct legitimate things “chase” industrialists in Southern countries. In September, in New York, for the first time, they announced a formal, measurable commitment: a 7% to 10% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2035. A change welcomed by COP30 participants.
China can boast of being the origin of a real energy revolution: the collapse of renewable energy prices. By flooding the earth with photovoltaic panels (which account for 80% of the market), this has made solar energy highly competitive – the cost of producing one kilowatt-hour has been halved in fifteen years. They continue their attacks on batteries, electric vehicles and wind turbines. Its strategy relies on its enormous market and on its secret alliance of planning and competition. China also broke records in October: electric or hybrid cars accounted for 52% of new car sales, compared with 20% in the same period in 2024.
Quite a big effort
Of course, the Chinese Communist Party’s politburo is not a group of its followers “live well” (“the good life”) envisioned collaborative vegetable gardens and civil rights over the river. In terms of business and realpolitik, we are still among the carnivores. If China starts massive investments in renewable energy, this will be mainly for economic reasons (to equip themselves with new machines for export), geostrategic (getting out of dependence on oil, implementing new energy standards, creating a monopoly position), diplomatic (establishing a soft power energy to woo Southern countries, taking advantage of America’s withdrawal on these issues).
You have 45.16% of this article left to read. The remainder is provided to customers.
