"In the past, China launched its Long March. Today, it is engaged in a race against time, with the aim of reaching carbon neutrality by 2060," says Flavia Giovannelli, journalist at the FER Geneva.
Paradoxical China! On one hand, it remains the world’s largest emitter of CO₂, with nearly twelve billion tonnes per year – twice as much as the United States, three times more than Europe. This colossal carbon footprint is explained by a strong dependence on fossil fuels, which still account for nearly 85% of its energy mix.
On the other, it displays a clear ambition: to become the world leader in the energy transition. A paradox? Rather a structured strategy, at the crossroads of ecology, economy and geopolitics. China wants to guarantee its energy sovereignty – and it is taking the necessary steps.
This is already evident in solar, a sector where it dominates the entire value chain. Nearly 80% of the world’s production of photovoltaic panels and their components now comes from China. This industrial lead serves a dual objective: to reduce its dependence on oil — of which it remains the world’s largest importer — and to control its energy mix through technologies developed on its own soil.
Switzerland, in this context, certainly does not play in the same league. But it can make the most of the situation.
In the past, China launched its Long March. Today, it is embarking on a race against the clock. It aims for carbon neutrality by 2060, and the first signs are already visible: in the first quarter of 2025, CO₂ emissions began to fall, despite electricity demand still rising, driven by the renewables boom.
This turning point could reshuffle the cards on a global scale. It pits the former champions of fossil fuels against the new masters of electrification. The rise of low-carbon technologies (solar, electric vehicles, heat pumps, etc.) sets off a dynamic of accelerated deployment, bringing growth and jobs.
But every transition also carries its share of tensions. Recent U.S. measures targeting Chinese photovoltaic products illustrate the emergence of a commercial showdown over green technologies.
Switzerland, in this context, certainly does not play in the same league. But it can make the most of the situation: by focusing on innovation, industrial agility and supply security, it can strengthen its energy autonomy.
It is no longer enough to follow the movement. One must know where to invest to become an actor in the transition. The world is being redrawn before our eyes. And to find our place in it, lucidity and flexibility will be our best assets.
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