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America has paved the way for China’s complete dominance in this century’s industrial shift

In an unprecedented turn of events, the United States has effectively handed China the keys to global energy leadership. The recent actions of President Donald Trump, upon his return to the White House, have undermined years of climate progress, sending a shockwave through the world’s green energy landscape.

In his first 24 hours, Trump enacted a series of executive orders that have shattered hopes for a robust U.S. commitment to the green energy transition, making China’s future dominance in the renewable energy sector all but inevitable.

One of the most significant and controversial moves came when Trump, as part of his “shock and awe” campaign, announced the U.S. withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement for the second time, signing an executive order to rescind the country’s participation in the global pact aimed at limiting the worst effects of climate change.

This withdrawal, which Trump announced on January 22, 2025, effectively cemented the U.S.’s stance as the only major industrialized nation rejecting the agreement, joining Iran, Libya, and Yemen as the sole outliers.

At a rally in Washington, D.C., Trump declared, “The United States will not sabotage our own industries while China pollutes with impunity,” referencing his stance against international climate accords that he has long denounced as “unfair” and “one-sided.” The withdrawal process, set to take about a year to formalize, marks another step back for the U.S. in global climate leadership, which was temporarily restored when Joe Biden rejoined the accord in 2021 after Trump’s 2017 exit.

The withdrawal was only the beginning. Trump has made clear his intentions to undo key elements of Biden’s climate agenda. During his inauguration speech on January 21, 2025, he declared a national energy emergency, signaling the beginning of a push to maximize fossil fuel production.

“We will be a rich nation again, and it is that liquid gold under our feet that will help to do it,” he proclaimed, referencing the vast oil and gas reserves in the U.S. His administration is set to fast-track permits for new drilling projects, including in Alaska, and suspend offshore wind leasing from all areas of the outer continental shelf, pending further review.

The decision to rescind efforts to grow clean energy came shortly after Trump signed another executive order aimed at eliminating the Biden administration’s target of having electric vehicles (EVs) comprise half of all new vehicle sales by 2030. Trump’s rejection of the electric vehicle mandate, alongside his decision to roll back auto pollution standards, represents a clear departure from global trends and efforts to decarbonize transportation.

America has paved the way for China’s complete dominance in this century’s industrial shift
Image Credits – Unsplash

He has repeatedly criticized Biden’s green energy initiatives, calling them a “green new scam” and instead focusing on boosting gas-powered vehicle production.

These decisions are not only concerning for the U.S.’s environmental future but have global ramifications. As climate scientists have long warned, accelerating the extraction of fossil fuels will push the planet closer to environmental catastrophe. Yet, the U.S. seems poised to abandon its climate commitments in favor of exploiting its natural resources to an even greater extent.

While the U.S. turns inward and digs deeper into its fossil fuel legacy, China is accelerating ahead. With trillions of dollars at stake in the green energy sector, China has already established itself as the global leader in the development and manufacturing of renewable energy infrastructure. From solar panels to wind turbines, China controls the supply chains that will power the decarbonization of the planet. The global south, in particular, will be dependent on China’s green technologies for electrification.

In a time when clean energy technologies represent the largest industrial project in human history, Trump’s actions only push the U.S. further away from the future. By rescinding these critical climate policies, he is not only harming the environment but also undercutting American competitiveness in a rapidly evolving global market. As China and Europe continue to lead the charge in green energy, the U.S. risks being left behind.

International leaders have already begun to respond to the U.S.’s climate retreat. Wopke Hoekstra, the European Commission’s commissioner for climate, net zero, and clean growth, labeled the U.S. exit from the Paris Agreement as “a truly unfortunate development.” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen reaffirmed Europe’s commitment to the Paris Agreement, stating, “Europe will stay the course,” even as the U.S. veers sharply off track.

As Trump continues to undo Biden-era environmental policies, he is effectively gifting China undisputed global leadership in the green energy sector — a leadership that could span decades and reshape the global economy. The United States, once the leader in clean energy innovation, is now poised to watch as China secures not only its own future but also controls the global green energy infrastructure that will define the 21st century.

This is a tragedy not only for the environment but for American economic interests. As China strengthens its hold on the green energy market, the U.S. faces a future of missed opportunities, environmental degradation, and dwindling global influence in the very technology that will power the next industrial revolution.

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