Green Energy Policy In China

This briefing, provided as testimony by Rob Bradley of the World Resources Institute to the U.S.-China Economic Security & Review Commission, analyzes China's green energy policies and commitments following the Copenhagen climate conference. It argues that China's pledges to reduce carbon intensity and improve emissions reporting are significant and achievable, though they require policies beyond current efforts. The document emphasizes that technical and economic collaboration between the United States and China is essential for global energy security and the reduction of low-carbon technology costs.

• At the Copenhagen climate conference, China made three primary domestic pledges to be achieved by 2020: reducing carbon dioxide emissions per unit of GDP by 40% to 45% compared to 2005 levels, increasing the share of non-fossil fuels in primary energy consumption to approximately 15%, and increasing forest coverage by 40 million hectares and forest stock volume by 1.3 billion cubic meters from 2005 levels.
• China agreed to a new international system for reporting national emissions every two years to a multinational body. While some skeptics question the reliability of Chinese data, the document asserts that national-level energy data has improved significantly because China effectively tracks large energy users and the energy-importing Eastern provinces, and Beijing can cross-check data from independent sources.
• The target to improve carbon intensity by 40% to 45% is considered a significant step beyond 'business as usual' and is achievable, but it will require more sweeping policies than existing efforts. This includes building new systems for tracking carbon dioxide emissions, imposing new efficiency requirements on the transportation and building sectors, and reforming laws to deploy renewable energy.
• Since the Copenhagen meeting, China has taken concrete steps to maintain its commitments, including amending its renewable energy law to increase fines for utilities that fail to purchase green energy or connect it to the grid, and integrating the carbon intensity target into its next Five-Year Plan.
• The United States and China have a long history of collaboration on energy and climate, including developing appliance efficiency standards and monitoring systems. Recent agreements include the establishment of a U.S.-China Clean Energy Research Center and joint efforts to deploy carbon capture and storage, electric vehicles, and 'smart' electrical grids.
• China's motivations for engaging in climate policy are driven by national interests, including energy security, economic growth, the need to reduce domestic pollution, and the desire to lead in the green energy business sector. Additionally, Chinese policymakers are concerned about the physical risks of climate change, such as flooding and threats to fresh water supplies, particularly for coastal and delta populations.

APA

Bradley, R. (n.d.). Green Energy Policy In China. World Resources Institute. https://www.wri.org/publications/testimony-us-china-economic-security-review-commission

Chicago

Bradley, Rob. Green Energy Policy In China. World Resources Institute, n.d. https://www.wri.org/publications/testimony-us-china-economic-security-review-commission.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Bradley |first1=Rob |title=Green Energy Policy In China |publisher=World Resources Institute |url=https://www.wri.org/publications/testimony-us-china-economic-security-review-commission |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{bradleyndgreen, author = {Bradley, Rob}, title = {{Green Energy Policy In China}}, institution = {World Resources Institute}, url = {https://www.wri.org/publications/testimony-us-china-economic-security-review-commission}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }