China’s drive towards a low-carbon economy is showing clear signs of slowing, according to research in the International Journal of Energy Technology and Policy. The study has tracked the country’s progress on replacing fossil fuels with renewable energy sources. While there is still a shift in gear towards cleaner growth, the pace has almost skidded to a halt, from a 92 per cent rise in 2010 to just 17 per cent in 2023. The research thus raises concerns regarding the way in which early gains from heavy state investment have lost their impetus.
The researchers analysed data from 2014 to 2020 and projected trends to 2023, they then developed a detailed framework to assess how effectively renewable energy is supporting China’s economic transformation. By considering four main factors, renewable energy utilisation, ecological environment quality, economic development, and the quality of life of the population, they determined that carbon emission intensity carried the greatest weight in evaluating low-carbon performance, reflecting its importance as a direct measure of climate impact.
The work also shows that China’s transition to a low-carbon economy remains uneven across regions. Southern provinces, with stronger renewable infrastructure and more advanced industries, are leading the shift. In contrast, the industrial north continues to depend heavily on coal and other fossil fuels, which has led to much slower progress and greater environmental strain. This regional imbalance highlights the challenge of aligning national energy goals with local economic realities.
As the world’s largest energy consumer and carbon emitter, China’s experience is seen as a test case for how large developing economies can move towards sustainability without undermining development. Beyond China, the research offers perspective on the many difficulties facing countries attempting to reconcile rapid growth with carbon reduction.
As advances in renewable technologies and energy storage continue, the researchers suggest that future assessments should incorporate social and market factors such as consumer behaviour, pricing mechanisms and public acceptance. Only by combining technological innovation with structural reform, they argue, can China regain the momentum in its push to low-carbon.
Li, C. (2025) ‘Construction of a multiscale renewable energy economic evaluation system considering low-carbon economy and energy storage integration’, Int. J. Energy Technology and Policy, Vol. 20, No. 6, pp.3–16.
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