China's Prospects for Shale Gas and Implications for the U.S.

This testimony by Sarah Forbes of the World Resources Institute, delivered to the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission, examines the early development of China's shale gas industry, the role of U.S.-China partnerships, and the resulting impacts on global energy security and the environment.

• China's shale gas industry is currently in its early stages of development, though it has received significant interest from the national government. The Chinese government is introducing policies to support the broader gas industry and shale gas research, while state-owned and provincial-owned enterprises carry out pilot demonstrations and exploration. Additionally, China is investing in U.S. shale gas development via its state-owned enterprises.
• Partnerships and joint ventures between U.S. and Chinese companies in the shale gas sector have provided near-term economic benefits to both nations and offer U.S. companies opportunities for growth both domestically and internationally.
• Developing shale gas is expected to improve China's energy security by reducing its reliance on natural gas imports. Because China's total natural gas demand is expected to exceed all domestic production for the foreseeable future, shale gas produced in China will likely be consumed domestically. This domestic consumption is unlikely to impact net U.S. energy imports, as the U.S. is projected to produce enough natural gas to meet its own demand for at least 25 years.
• The environmental impact of shale gas in China depends on its ability to displace inefficient coal plants and supplement renewable energy and energy efficiency. To avoid repeating negative environmental impacts seen in the U.S., development in China should follow international best practices and be enforced by laws, regulations, and standards, which would also create a "level playing field" for companies in both countries.

APA

Forbes, S. M. (n.d.). China's Prospects for Shale Gas and Implications for the U.S. World Resources Institute. https://www.wri.org/publications/testimony-chinas-prospects-shale-gas-and-implications-us

Chicago

Forbes, Sarah M. China's Prospects for Shale Gas and Implications for the U.S. World Resources Institute, n.d. https://www.wri.org/publications/testimony-chinas-prospects-shale-gas-and-implications-us.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Forbes |first1=Sarah M. |title=China's Prospects for Shale Gas and Implications for the U.S. |publisher=World Resources Institute |url=https://www.wri.org/publications/testimony-chinas-prospects-shale-gas-and-implications-us |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{forbesndchinas, author = {Forbes, Sarah M.}, title = {{China's Prospects for Shale Gas and Implications for the U.S.}}, institution = {World Resources Institute}, url = {https://www.wri.org/publications/testimony-chinas-prospects-shale-gas-and-implications-us}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }