China's green technology exports have beaten U.S. exports of fossil fuels in total value in 2025, former U.S. Vice President Al Gore said Friday on the sidelines of the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland.
"Last year, China not only exported more green technology by dollar value than the United States' export of fossil fuels to the rest of the world, but more by 50 percent," he told reporters.
"China has invested in an appreciating asset going up in value because the cost of electricity from renewables and batteries continues to go down rapidly, while the policy of clinging to outdated, dirty, destructive fossil fuels is a depreciating asset and could become a stranded asset for those who cling to it for too long," Gore said.
While China was once known for exporting mostly labor-intensive, low-end products in the global value chain, its export structure has undergone remarkable upgrading in recent years, with exports becoming increasingly greener and more technology intensive.
In the field of green energy, exports of lithium batteries and wind turbines soared by 26.2 percent and 48.7 percent, respectively, in 2025. Within the green mobility sector, exports of electric motorcycles and bicycles rose by 18.1 percent last year.
China has seen its green and low-carbon energy transition accelerate at the fastest pace during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025).
Green electricity accounted for one-third of China's total electricity consumption during the period, according to the National Energy Administration.
Former US Vice President on China's green technology
China's push toward a greener future is once again in the spotlight at this year's annual political "two sessions", as lawmakers are reviewing a draft ecological environment code, a significant step toward establishing a comprehensive legal framework for ecological protection.
The draft code was submitted on March 5 to the ongoing fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, for deliberation.
Once adopted, it will become China's second formal statutory code, after the Civil Code, which was adopted in 2020.
The rule of law has been continuously strengthened to support the country's green progress. China already has more than 30 laws related to environmental protection, along with over 100 sets of administrative regulations and more than 1,000 sets of local rules.
The latest legislative move comes amid China's historic gains in ecological conservation over the past decade or so. Championing green development, the country has recorded the world's fastest growth in forest resources and afforestation, led globally in renewable energy development, and achieved one of the fastest national reductions in energy intensity worldwide.
The 1,242-article draft has five chapters, covering areas including pollution control, ecological protection, and green and low-carbon development.
Scholars involved in drafting the legislation say the code goes beyond broad legal principles. It is also designed to address environmental issues that affect people's daily lives.
"Electric vehicles are becoming very common in China. My family has one. We all think it environment-friendly. But have you ever thought about this question: how do we deal with the first generation of EV batteries after they expire a few years later? The same goes for wind turbine blades and solar panels," said Ding Lin, assistant professor of the Renmin University of China.
China's environmental progress has drawn global attention in recent years, from improving air quality to expanding renewable energy. Yet amid geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainty, some observers have questioned whether the country will maintain the same pace of green transition.
"Last year during the COP30, even some friends who are very familiar with China asked me whether China will continue its green development path. I told them we have gradually worked out new policies. We have a very clear direction and goal. In a world full of uncertainties, we are providing the most certainty," said Wang Yi, an NPC deputy from east China's Zhejiang Province and professor of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
In a country pursuing modernization, taking the time to codify environmental laws sends a clear message: economic growth and environmental protection are not a trade-off to be managed, but a commitment to be upheld. For China, a beautiful environment is not a luxury for the future, it is a right for the present, and a responsibility to the next generation.
"This code reflects China's vision of harmonious coexistence between humanity and nature. It shows how development and environmental protection can move forward together," said Lyu Zhongmei, vice chair of the NPC Environmental Protection and Resources Conservation Committee.
China will accelerate the green transition across the board and cut carbon dioxide emissions per unit of the GDP by a total of 17 percent in the 2026-2030 period, according to a draft outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30) for national economic and social development submitted to the NPC for deliberation on March 5.
Chinese lawmakers review draft ecological environment code in major green legislative push
