John Kerry Urges US and World to Follow China’s Lead in Green Energy Transition

China is leading the global shift away from fossil fuels, and nations including the United States must follow or face economic consequences, former US secretary of state John Kerry told The Guardian.

The remarks arrive as Cop31 opens in Turkey, prompting speculation over whether Beijing will assume a leadership role in climate governance that it has historically avoided. In its latest five-year plan adopted in March 2026, China pledged for the first time to actively participate in and lead global climate governance. Clean-tech exports surpassed $220bn in 2025, cementing China’s position as the world’s leading supplier of clean energy technology, according to The Guardian. The country accounts for roughly 85% of solar and 80% of lithium-ion battery supply chain production capacity, while nearly 75% of electric cars were manufactured there in 2025. Kerry said nations falling behind on low-carbon power and rapid electrification will lose out economically.

“The only country that has hugely accelerated is China,” he told The Guardian. “The rest of the world is stumbling along while Mother Nature is sending us more powerful signals every week, every day.”

Beijing views the energy transition as central to economic modernization and security, according to Kevin Tu from the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies.

China has already stated its desire for Cop31 to address the free flow of green technology amid intensifying geopolitical conflicts, referencing US and EU tariffs on items such as Chinese electric vehicles and solar products. Li Shuo of the Asia Society Policy Institute told The Guardian that China faces a question of whether it will step into leadership out of self-interest rather than obligation.