Amid energy conflicts,nation offers ray of hope

From the times of muscle power to modern life, energy has been one of the basic ingredients of life. Rather, modern life relies entirely on it. From everyday chores to communication, transportation, production and technology, humans depend on energy.

The critical role of energy in human society has made it a tool of geopolitics, shaping both peace and conflict. Some experts believe that United States geologist M. King Hubbert's 1956"Peak Oil" paper, in which he predicted that oil production in the lower 48 US states would peak in the early 1970s, led to the concept of an "energy cold war". Since then, energy security has shaped US policy regarding energy resources and its presence in the Middle East.

This became the basis of the Carter Doctrine, which explicitly favored aggressive containment of any involvement and interference in the Middle East to ensure the energy security of the US. It was also intended to control the flow of energy to weaken or dominate competitors or rivals, with special focus on the Soviet Union, which was utilizing its energy resources to gain dominance in Eastern Europe. These policies led to the emergence of the term "energy cold war", a phrase that has become common over the past decade.

The petrodollar-based oil trade order was used to influence energy-rich countries and end users, and to achieve geopolitical objectives. For example, Iran faces sanctions on its oil and gas exports, while the US and the European Union have imposed sanctions on Russia's oil and gas exports to help Ukraine gain an upper hand in the war. The current conflict between Iran and the US and Israel, as well as the forcible seizure of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, are also centered on energy, along with other goals.

In recent times, the "energy cold war" has entered a hot war phase. It is astonishing to note that three major oil suppliers -Russia, Iran and Venezuela -have been targeted.

Against this backdrop, the world is seeking alternatives that can help sustain economic growth, maintain lifestyles and promote lasting peace. In this setting, clean, renewable energy has emerged as a promising option, giving rise to the idea of a green transition. Now the debate is about whether it is achievable in the near future. Will the goals of the green transition be reached when the US has opted out of the Paris Agreement on climate change?

In this context, China has taken the lead and launched a comprehensive green transition initiative with clear objectives and programs and a defined path. China adopted a systematic approach, first identifying the most critical factor in the transition - energy- and then building a complete ecosystem for the green transition. China began the transition by developing clean, renewable energy sources. It launched numerous projects, both small and large.

The efforts are paying off, as renewable energy accounted for about 60 percent of China's total installed power generation capacity in 2025. Solar and wind energy contributed almost 1,800 gigawatts to the total capacity, while coal accounted for approximately 1,500 GW. This means that solar and wind energy surpassed coal power for the first time in China's history. Moreover, China produced 4 trillion kilowatt-hours of electricity from renewable energy sources, more than the EU's total electricity consumption.

China achieved success due to the strong commitment of the Communist Party of China leadership and huge investment. Data shows that in 2025, clean energy contributed nearly $2.1 trillion in national GDP, comparable to the economies of Brazil or Canada. The investment in clean energy alone surpassed $1 trillion, comparable to the economies of Turkiye or Switzerland.

China's investments in clean energy technologies have also positioned it as the largest producer and exporter of clean technology, accounting for over 80 percent of solar panel manufacturing, nearly 70 percent of EV production, 72 percent of global new wind turbine installations and 70 percent of battery production.

China has also helped other countries build capacity by sharing technology in sectors such as solar, wind, EVs and nuclear. It is also working to transform the Belt and Road Initiative into the Green Belt and Road Initiative, and China has already launched many initiatives under the BRI, including the Belt and Road Initiative International Green Development Coalition and the Green Silk Road Envoys Program.

Now, imagine a scenario in which a large country does not need fossil fuels and helps other countries reduce their dependence on them. This would minimize demand and geopolitical tensions over energy by redefining energy security. Therefore, the green transition is expected to lessen geopolitical influence and warfare by shifting focus from and reducing dependence on fossil fuels. It will also help address climate change.

China has proved that a green transition is possible, and other countries can learn from it. The global success of the green transition will help shift from fossil fuels to green energy sources, reduce geopolitical tensions over energy, end the "energy cold war", and end wars over energy.

Therefore, China's green transition is a ray of hope for peace.

The author is CEO of the Asian Institute of Eco-civilization, Research and Development in Pakistan.

The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.