An Emerging Revolution

This working paper examines China's efforts to create an enabling environment for clean technology research, development, and innovation. It argues that the direction and pace of innovation—driven by technology-neutral energy policies and domestic R&D support—are critical for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The paper aims to demonstrate how developing countries can implement similar policies to leverage international climate financing and achieve scientific leadership.

• The working paper analyzes the strategies used by China, identified as the world's largest gross emitter of greenhouse gases, to establish an environment that supports research, development, and innovation in clean technology. The objective is to provide a model for other developing nations to design effective technology policies, particularly as international climate agreements are expected to increase financing for clean technology assistance.
• The document asserts that the ability to reduce greenhouse gas emissions on a significant scale relies on the direction and pace of technological innovation. The direction is largely dependent on energy policies that are technology-neutral and balanced, while the pace is driven by domestic policies that encourage research and innovation, which is especially critical for developing countries that lack the established R&D infrastructure found in industrialized nations.
• China has implemented comprehensive policies to prioritize, fund, and deploy clean technology R&D and innovation in the short and medium term, driven by a goal to become a global power in science and technology.

APA

World Resources Institute (n.d.). An Emerging Revolution. https://www.wri.org/research/emerging-revolution

Chicago

World Resources Institute. An Emerging Revolution. n.d. https://www.wri.org/research/emerging-revolution.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=World Resources Institute |title=An Emerging Revolution |url=https://www.wri.org/research/emerging-revolution |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{worldresourcesinstitutendemerging, author = {{World Resources Institute}}, title = {{An Emerging Revolution}}, institution = {World Resources Institute}, url = {https://www.wri.org/research/emerging-revolution}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }