Shanghai Bund Horizon Marco, Renewable Solar Energy Solar Panels Plant

While China reaches historical milestones in the development of renewable energies, the United States, under Donald Trump’s leadership, continue in the opposite direction, prioritizing fossil fuels and removing incentives for sustainable technologies. This contrast of policies not only highlights divergent priorities, but also has profound impacts on industrial competitiveness and the global role of both countries.

The Green Advance of China

In 2024, China exceeded all expectations by registering an installed capacity of wind and solar energy of 1.4 billion kilowatts, a historic landmark that places the country 15% above the goals set by 2030 by President XI Jinping. This growth is supported by aggressive state planning, which includes the construction of large renewable energy bases in desert regions and the development of offshore wind turbines, such as the one that recently broke daily power generation records.

Data released by China’s National Energy Administration show that more than 80% of the new capacity installed in 2024 was from renewable sources, consolidating the country as a global leader in the sector. In addition, China produces 80% of the world’s solar panels, contributing to the overall reduction of clean energy costs. This advance reflects not only an environmental concern, but also an economic strategy, as the transition to renewable energy sources strengthens Chinese competitiveness in emerging global markets, such as electric vehicles.

Known as the world’s factory, China is among the largest greenhouse gas emitters in the world. About 81% of its primary energy comes from coal, oil or gas. But it is also the country that has increased faster energy production capacity from renewable sources in recent years.

The country is installing more solar and wind power capacity than the rest of the combined world and has invested more than $ 50 billion in this area from 2011 to 2022, according to data from the International Energy Agency ).

Trump’s fossil rhetoric

In contrast, the United States under Donald Trump have reinforced their dependence on fossil fuels. The president reiterated the country’s withdrawal from the Paris Agreement, arguing that the pact imposes “economic losses” on the US while benefiting China. In line with this vision, Trump cut incentives for electric vehicles and imposed on imported battery materials in an attempt to strengthen the fossil fuel -based domestic industry.

These measures, although aligned with short -term interests from the oil, gas and coal industries, risk weakening US competitive position on clean energy technologies. According to Pedro Luiz Côrtes, professor at USP, the decision reflects a stance that favors immediate interests, but compromises the country’s future industrial. “Without investments in innovation, the US is in danger of being technologically backwards compared to countries such as China and members of the European Union,” he warns of comment USP radio.

Despite the dependence of China of fuel, in historical terms, first place is still with the US, responsible for 17% of emissions that contributed to the climate crisis since 1850 – China has issued 12%. In the per capita comparison, emissions are also much smaller in the Asian country: 8.73 tons in China against 14.24 tons in the US in 2021.

For Côrtes, Trump’s decision reflects rhetoric aligned with the interests of the oil, gas and coal industry, sectors that played a crucial role in his political campaign. Removal of the agreement reinforces American dependence on fossil fuels, while other countries develop sustainable solutions. China, for example, realized that electric vehicles represented an opportunity to lead the auto market and reduce their own emissions, as the teacher emphasizes.

Impacts on industries

The antagonism between the environmental policies of both countries is reflected directly in their industries. China, by betting on renewable energy, is positioned as a leader in the manufacture of green technologies, attracting global investments and reducing their dependence on fossil fuels. On the other hand, US industry faces challenges to compete in strategic markets such as electric vehicles and sustainable infrastructure, especially without the necessary subsidies to boost innovations.

In addition, Trump’s stance generates concerns about US credibility in multilateral climate negotiations and compromises global efforts to combat the climate crisis. In a world where energy transition is increasingly urgent, lack of alignment with global trends can isolate the US, while China consolidates itself as an indispensable actor on the climate agenda.

The departure of the agreement can also impact the representativeness of COP30, which will be held in Brazil. According to the teacher, although the absence of the US is worrying, the importance of the Amazon as a global biome should attract a significant number of countries and delegations. “The challenge will be to ensure the presence of heads of state, especially China, who has invested strongly in energy transition technologies,” he said.

The future of global competitiveness

Beijing has already surpassed some of his green energy goals. Non -fossil energy, such as solar and wind, already represents more than half of China’s total capacity – a goal previously expected only to 2025. Until then, the Asian nation should double its solar and wind capacity, exceeding its goal five years before From the expected, according to a report by the Global Energy Monitor NGO, based in San Francisco (USA).

While Beijing already reaches goals ahead of time, the US under Trump seems to follow the global energy transition. States resistance such as California (and 15 other Democratic States) demonstrates that there are internal movements aligned with sustainability demands, but federal actions compromise the country’s general progress.

In the long run, dependence on fossil fuels can bring economic and technological disadvantages to the US, while China reaps the fruits of its visionary policies.

Source: vermelho.org.br



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