# John Kerry: America Must Now Follow China’s Lead on Clean Energy

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/john-kerry-america-must-now-follow-chinas-lead-on-clean-energy/
- Published: 2026-11-11T12:30:00+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-11T13:38:32+00:00
- Original publisher: Mother Jones (publisher lean: Left)
- Original article: https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2026/11/john-kerry-america-china-leads-clean-energy-dominance-cop31/
- Topics: Americas, Asia, Climate, Politics, Science, World

## Key points

- Kerry urges the US to follow China’s clean-energy shift.
- China’s clean-tech exports topped $220bn in 2025.
- Cop31 may signal whether Beijing will lead on climate policy.

## Summary

Former US Secretary of State John Kerry says the United States and other countries must follow China’s shift towards clean energy or risk losing economic ground while worsening climate change. His comments come as Cop31 opens in Turkey, amid questions over whether Beijing will take a stronger leadership role in global climate policy.

China’s March 2026 five-year plan pledged for the first time to lead global climate governance. In 2025, its clean-technology exports exceeded $220bn; it had about 85% of solar and 80% of lithium-ion battery supply-chain production capacity, and made nearly 75% of electric cars. Kerry argues that renewables with storage, alongside some transitional gas, can be cheaper and more effective than relying on fossil fuels; China also wants Cop31 to discuss the free flow of green technology amid tariffs and geopolitical tensions.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.