【Wen / Observers Daily, Xiong Chaoran】On February 12th, local time, U.S. President Trump announced at the White House that he would immediately revoke the climate change hazard designation. In 2009, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) had made a scientific determination in a report that greenhouse gas emissions pose a threat to public health and well-being. This determination was regarded as an important legal basis for the U.S. government to regulate greenhouse gas emissions, promote the development of electric vehicles, and address climate change. Now, it is declared obsolete.

Trump's decision prompted David Gelles, a climate reporter for The New York Times, to reflect on the same day. "Why does it feel like living in the future in China," Gelles wrote, pointing out that in a series of reports last year, he and his colleagues had already noticed the significant rise of China's clean energy, as well as the extent to which the United States has gradually fallen behind in low-carbon technologies such as solar power and electric vehicles. Importantly, these products are often cheaper and more convenient than fossil fuel technologies.

Over time, the rise of China's clean energy and the reversal of U.S. policies have formed a sharp contrast, and the core message of this series of reports has been increasingly verified.

At the same time, China has not slowed down its global expansion. Canada recently agreed to reduce tariffs on some Chinese cars, opening the door for popular electric vehicles from companies like BYD to enter the market. This week, there were also reports that Chinese researchers have developed a lithium battery that can maintain power in extremely cold environments.

According to an analysis by the energy and climate media Carbon Brief, clean energy technologies including solar power and electric vehicles contributed more than one-third of China's economic growth last year, creating an economic benefit of about $2.1 trillion.

To understand how fast the changes are, Gelles often consults his colleague Keith Bradsher, the Beijing bureau chief of The New York Times.

"China is far ahead of other countries in the world," Bradsher said: "Not only is it far ahead in the installation of renewable energy and new transportation technologies, but it is also far ahead in research breakthroughs."

On February 12, 2026, wind turbines rotate in the Qianmu Fish Pond breeding area in Gaoyu Lake Village, Yintu Town, Jinhu County, with water reflecting the scenery (drone photo). IC Photo

The U.S. Is Going Backwards in History

Gelles said that in last year's articles, The New York Times had already explored the astonishing scale of China's solar power plants, including one covering about 162 square miles (approximately 420 square kilometers), as well as China's progress in building thousands of kilometers of ultra-high voltage transmission lines.

At the same time, this media outlet also analyzed how China exports affordable and high-quality solar panels and electric vehicles around the world, reshaping economies from South Africa to Brazil, and focusing on China's rapid development in emerging fields such as nuclear fusion, autonomous driving cars, and rare earth elements.

"The contrast between Beijing and Washington is very clear."

Gelles pointed out that for decades, China has patiently supported its own clean technology, and its policy on rare earths can be traced back to about 60 years ago. Rare earths are a key component in a variety of products, from electric vehicles to supersonic jet engines. In contrast, the U.S. policy has been inconsistent.

During the four years of the Biden administration, the U.S. has focused on supporting the wind energy, solar power, battery, and electric vehicle industries, while under the Trump administration, it has taken the opposite approach.

While China is accelerating its transition to clean energy, the Trump administration has been continuously looking for new ways to suppress renewables and support coal, oil, and natural gas, which are fossil fuels.

He mentioned that just the day before, the White House had ordered the Pentagon to purchase more coal-fired electricity, which is the least environmentally friendly fossil fuel. On the other side, China's carbon dioxide emissions have remained flat or declined for 21 consecutive months.

Last month, the U.S. Department of Energy canceled a $3 billion clean energy project loan. According to reports by two other New York Times journalists this month, the U.S. and its allies are delaying approvals for wind and solar projects on federal land and private property. A renewable energy organization believes that this "blockade" has stalled hundreds of projects nationwide.

On August 8, 2024, at the Shanghai Auto Show, car buyers experience the performance of Xiaopeng cars. IC Photo

"The U.S. is actually giving up many energy and transportation technologies of the 21st century," Bradsher told Gelles.

Gelles mentioned that in addition to the Trump administration's crackdown on the offshore wind power industry, the complete weakening of environmental regulations, the expansion of support for fossil fuels, and the reduction of research funding, it can be seen that the U.S. and China, as the world's two largest economies, are moving apart on the core issue of how future energy will be supplied.

China Shaping the World Order

Bradsher told Gelles that as China's policies begin to drive a virtuous cycle of innovation, the gap between China and the U.S. is expanding month by month.

"China invests a large amount of R&D resources in developing new inventions in areas such as rare earths, while the U.S. has almost given up basic chemical research," Bradsher said.

The report points out that while the U.S. is increasing domestic fossil fuel development, China continues to expand its global influence.

Last year, China's electric vehicle exports reached a record of $70 billion, and Chinese automakers achieved sales in 150 countries and regions. In the first half of 2025, China's solar panel exports also saw significant growth.

"We are moving from a world driven by oil to a world that is much cheaper and powered by solar energy," Bradsher said: "In fact, many countries are increasingly buying electricity from China because almost the entire solar panel market is Chinese. In many regions of developing countries, this has become the only product everyone wants to buy because it is the cheapest way to get power."

Finally, Gelles asked Bradsher, who has been reporting and interviewing in China for 24 years, what it feels like to live in a country where these technologies are already widespread.

"China's high-speed rail, super modern subways, and the growing number of autonomous electric vehicles often make me feel like I'm living in the future," Bradsher said.

This article is exclusive to Observers Daily. Reproduction without permission is prohibited.

Original: toutiao.com/article/7606188113248944674/

Statement: The article represents the personal views of the author.