United States-China Green Energy Cooperation: Opportunities and Challenges (2021-2024)
Kerja Sama Energi Hijau Amerika Serikat–Cina: Peluang dan Tantangan (2021–2024)
Abstract
Green energy cooperation between the United States and China emerged as a strategic effort to address global climate change during the period from 2021 to 2024. This research explores the dynamics of this cooperation, highlighting both the opportunities and challenges faced by the two countries. Employing a liberal interdependence theoretical framework, the study employs qualitative methods, with library research serving as the primary data collection technique. Despite existing geopolitical differences, both countries advanced green energy development under the leadership of Presidents Joe Biden and Xi Jinping. Opportunities for collaboration arose from various factors, including changes in leadership, enhanced dialogue, positive responses, global interdependence, formal agreements, and the strategic role of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Key areas of cooperation encompassed investment in green technology, knowledge transfer, and collaborative research efforts. However, challenges during Biden's administration were inevitable and continued to persist even after the administration ended due to divergent domestic policies and priorities arising from changing leadership, technological competition, and ongoing political tensions. Greater difficulties are anticipated as Donald Trump returns to office. The study concludes that cooperation in green energy between these two major economic powers is vital for the global energy transition and efforts to mitigate climate change; nevertheless, significant challenges must be addressed to facilitate positive trends and achieve progress.
Downloads
References
Alam, A., Saleem, A., Ahmad, M., Khattak, A. K., & Ullah, I. (2024). Beyond Paris: Accelerating International Progress on Climate Change and the Green Economy. Journal Of Climate and Community Development, 3(2), 105-120.
Ali, S., Akter, S., Ymeri, P., & Fogarassy, C. (2022). How the Use of Biomass for Green Energy and Waste Incineration Practice Will Affect GDP Growth in the Less Developed Countries of the EU (A Case Study with Visegrad and Balkan Countries). Energies, 15(7), 2308. https://doi.org/10.3390/en15072308
Al-Shetwi, A. Q. (2022). Sustainable development of renewable energy integrated power sector: Trends, environmental impacts, and recent challenges. Science of The Total Environment, 822, 153645.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.153645
Androniceanu, A., & Sabie, O. M. (2022). Overview of green energy as a real strategic option for sustainable development. Energies, 15(22), 8573. https://doi.org/10.3390/en15228573
Arikunto, S. (2013). Prosedur Penelitian Suatu Pendekatan Praktik. Jakarta: PT. Rineka Cipta.
Bailey, C. J. (2019). Assessing President Obama’s climate change record. Environmental Politics, 28(5), 847-865. https://doi.org/10.1080/09644016.2018.1494967
Ball-Burack, A., Xi, X., & Kammen, D. M. (2024). From powerpoint to powerplant: evaluating the impact of the U.S.-China Sunnylands commitment to tripling global renewable energy capacity by 2030. Environmental Research Letters, 19(4), 041007. https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/ad3284
Barichella, A. (2023). Climate politics under Biden: the clean energy revolution, enhanced cooperative federalism and the ‘all-of-government’ approach. In Can Cities, States and Regions Save Our Planet? Transatlantic Perspectives on Multilevel Climate Governance (pp. 85-128). Cham: Springer International Publishing.
Batsikadze, N. (2024). Securing a Technological Edge: The Rationale Behind China's Export Ban on Rare Earth Magnet Manufacturing Technology.
Bistline, J., Blanford, G., Brown, M., Burtraw, D., Domeshek, M., Farbes, J., Fawcett, A., Hamilton, A., Jenkins, J., Jones, R., King, B., Kolus, H., Larsen, J., Levin, A., Mahajan, M., Marcy, C., Mayfield, E., McFarland, J., McJeon, H., … Zhao, A. (2023). Emissions and energy impacts of the Inflation Reduction Act. Science, 380(6652), 1324–1327. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.adg3781
BloombergNEF. (2025, January 30). Global investment in the energy transition exceeded $2 trillion for the first time in 2024, according to BloombergNEF report. https://about.bnef.com/insights/finance/global-investment-in-the-energy-transition-exceeded-2-trillion-for-the-first-time-in-2024-according-to-bloombergnef-report/
Carbon Brief. (2024). Analysis: China’s emissions have now caused more global warming than EU. https://www.carbonbrief.org/analysis-chinas-emissions-have-now-caused-more-global-warming-than-eu/#:~:
Cifuentes-Faura, J., Mohammed, K. S., & Alofaysan, H. (2024). The connectedness and structural changes among green and conventional energy markets with CO2 emissions in the United States. Economic Analysis and Policy, 83, 80–94. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eap.2024.06.009
Climate Watch. (2024). Global Historical Greenhouse Gas Emissions. Diakses dari https://www.climatewatchdata.org/ghgemissions?end_year=2021&gases=allghg®ions=CHN%2CUSA&start_year=2016
Cozzi, L., Gul, T., Spencer, T., & Levi, P. (2024, April 18). Clean energy is boosting economic growth – Analysis. IEA. https://www.iea.org/commentaries/clean-energy-is-boosting-economic-growth
Creswell, J. W. (2009). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches, 3rd ed (pp. xxix, 260). Sage Publications, Inc.
Daaboul, J., Moriarty, P., & Honnery, D. (2023). Net green energy potential of solar photovoltaic and wind energy generation systems. Journal of Cleaner Production, 415, 137806. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2023.137806
Danish, N., & Ulucak, R. (2021). Renewable energy, technological innovation and the environment: A novel dynamic auto-regressive distributive lag simulation. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 150, 111433. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2021.111433
Dar, Z. A., & Javid, S. (2025). Navigating the Turbulent Waters: An In-Depth Study of US-China Geopolitical Rivalry. Law, Economics and Society, 1(1), p1-p1. https://doi.org/10.30560/les.v1n1p1
Dashti, A., & Korzani, M. G. (2021b). Study of geothermal energy potential as a green source of energy with a look at energy consumption in Iran. Geothermal Energy, 9(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40517-021-00210-2
Dugis, V. (2016). Teori Hubungan Internasional Perspektif-Perspektif Klasik . Surabaya: Cakra Studi Global Strategis (SCGS) https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Vinsensio-Dugis/publication/321709080_Teori_Hubungan_Internasional_Perspektif-Perspektif_Klasik/links/5a7f16a80f7e9be137c71dbb/Teori-Hubungan-Internasional-Perspektif-Perspektif-Klasik.pdf
Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the United States of America. (2023, November 14). The Sunnylands statement on enhancing cooperation to address the climate crisis. https://us.china-embassy.gov.cn/eng/zmgx/zxxx/202311/t20231115_11180471.htm
Environmental Protection Agency. (2024, March 20). Biden–Harris Administration finalizes strongest‑ever pollution standards for cars that position U.S. companies and workers to lead the clean vehicle future, protect public health, address the climate crisis, save drivers money [Press release]. U.S. EPA. https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/biden-harris-administration-finalizes-strongest-ever-pollution-standards-cars-position
European Commission. (2021, October 31). International Methane Emissions Observatory launched to boost action on powerful climate-warming gas [Press release]. https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/it/ip_21_5636
Ewing, J. (2021). Pathways for U.S.–China climate cooperation under the Biden administration. In From Trump to Biden and beyond (pp. 111–129). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-4297-5_8
Fang, M. M. (2020). A crisis or an opportunity? The trade war between the US and China in the Solar PV Sector. Journal of World Trade, 54(1). http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3441479
Feng, L. I. U., Wenjun, C. A. O., Jianming, Z. H. A. N. G., Guangming, C. A. O., & Linfeng, G. U. O. (2021). The Technological Innovation Progress and Development Direction of the 14th Five-Year Plan Period in Chinese Coal Industry. Journal of China Coal Society, 46(1), 1-15.
Fransen, T., Ge, M., & Damassa, T. (2014, November 20). The China-U.S. climate agreement: By the numbers. World Resources Institute. https://www.wri.org/insights/china-us-climate-agreement-numbers
Franssen, C. (2025, May 15). China’s renewables capacity growth leaps ahead. Environment Analyst. https://environment-analyst.com/global/110975/chinas-renewables-capacity-growth-leaps-ahead
Gacek, Ł. (2024). Chapter 8: China’s policy on climate and energy towards 2060. In China under Xi Jinping (pp. 192–214). Brill. https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004691087_010
Gross, S. (2020, August 4). What is the Trump administration’s track record on the environment? Brookings Institution. https://www.brookings.edu/articles/what-is-the-trump-administrations-track-record-on-the-environment/
Hadari, Nawawi, (2003). “Metode Penelitian Bidang Sosial”, Gajah Mada University Press, Yogyakarta
Hassan, Q., Viktor, P., Al-Musawi, T. J., Ali, B. M., Algburi, S., Alzoubi, H. M., Al-Jiboory, A. K., Sameen, A. Z., Salman, H. M., & Jaszczur, M. (2024). The renewable energy role in the global energy Transformations. Renewable Energy Focus, 48, 100545. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ref.2024.100545
Hou, F., Liu, Y., Ma, Z., Liu, C., Zhang, S., Yang, F., & Nie, Y. (2023). Study of the carbon neutral path in China: a literature review. Chinese Journal of Urban and Environmental Studies, 11(02), 2350008. DOI: 10.1142/S2345748123500082
International Energy Agency (2022), Solar PV Global Supply Chains, IEA, Paris https://www.iea.org/reports/solar-pv-global-supply-chains, Licence: CC BY 4.0 https://www.iea.org/reports/solar-pv-global-supply-chains/executive-summary
International Institute for Sustainable Development. (2024, May 15). US, China exchange experiences with climate policies and actions [Press release]. https://sdg.iisd.org/news/us-china-exchange-experiences-with-climate-policies-and-actions/
Jackson, R. & Sørensen, G. (2013). Introduction to International Relations Theories and Approaches Fifth edition. Oxford University Press.
Kayani, U., Sheikh, U. A., Khalfaoui, R., Roubaud, D., & Hammoudeh, S. (2024). Impact of Climate Policy Uncertainty (CPU) and global Energy Uncertainty (EU) news on US sectors: The moderating role of CPU on the EU and US sectoral stock nexus. Journal of Environmental Management, 366, 121654. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.121654
Keohane, R., & Nye, J. (2012). Power and Interdependence. Boston, MA: Longman.
Kilinc-Ata, N., & Proskuryakova, L. N. (2024). The contribution of energy policies to green energy transition in the Asia-Pacific region. Renewable Energy, 237, 121797. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2024.121797
Kim, H. J., Oh, J., & Kwon, H. J. (2024). Investigating the effect of the U.S. semiconductor export controls on China. SSRN Electronic Journal. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.5033926
Leonard, M. D., Michaelides, E. E., & Michaelides, D. N. (2020). Energy storage needs for the substitution of fossil fuel power plants with renewables. Renewable Energy, 145, 951-962. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2019.06.066
Lewis, J. I. (2020). Towards a New Era of US Engagement with China on Climate Change. Geo. J. Int'l Aff., 21, 173. https://doi.org/10.1353/gia.2020.0032
Li, J. (2020). Charging Chinese future: the roadmap of China's policy for new energy automotive industry. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 45(20), 11409-11423. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2020.02.075
Li, J., Ho, M. S., Xie, C., & Stern, N. (2022). China's flexibility challenge in achieving carbon neutrality by 2060. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 158, 112112. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2022.112112
Liu, Z. (2025). The two-level games in China’s foreign trade policies. Taylor & Francis.
Lo, J. (2022, August 8). US-China climate working group cancelled after Pelosi’s Taiwan visit. Climate Home News. https://www.climatechangenews.com/2022/08/08/us-china-climate-working-group-cancelled-after-pelosis-taiwan-visit/
Lopez, A., Zuckerman, G. R., Pinchuk, P., Gleason, M., Rivers, M., Roberts, O., ... & Cole, W. (2025). Renewable Energy Technical Potential and Supply Curves for the Contiguous United States: 2024 Edition (No. NREL/TP-6A20-91900). National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States).
McGrath, M. (2020, November 4). Climate change: US formally withdraws from Paris agreement. BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-54797743
Meunier, M. (2024). How youth-led climate movements played a role in the passage of the United States’ first ever climate bill, the Inflation Reduction Act. Revue LISA/LISA e-journal. Littératures, Histoire des Idées, Images, Sociétés du Monde Anglophone–Literature, History of Ideas, Images and Societies of the English-speaking World, 22(58). https://doi.org/10.4000/131jx
Miles, M.B., Huberman, A.M. and Saldana, J. (2014) Qualitative Data Analysis: A Methods Sourcebook. Sage, London.
Mirrlees, T. (2024). The US and China’s digital tech war: A new rivalry within and beyond the US empire. Socialist Register, 60(A New Global Geometry), 105-140.
Myllyvirta, L. (2023, November 21). Analysis: China’s emissions set to fall in 2024 after record growth in Clean Energy. Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air. https://energyandcleanair.org/analysis-chinas-emissions-set-to-fall-in-2024-after-record-growth-in-clean-energy/
News Agencies. (2023, July 17). John Kerry arrives in China to revive climate talks. Al Jazeera. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/7/17/john-kerry-arrives-in-china-to-revive-climate-talks
Nicholas, M., Hall, D., & Lutsey, N. (2019). Quantifying the electric vehicle charging infrastructure gap across US markets. Int. Counc. Clean Transp, 20, 1-33. https://theicct.org/publication/quantifying-the-electric-vehicle-charging-infrastructure-gap-across-u-s-markets/
Ou, S., Lin, Z., He, X., Przesmitzki, S., & Bouchard, J. (2020). Modeling charging infrastructure impact on the electric vehicle market in China. Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment, 81, 102248. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trd.2020.102248
Philippe Martin, Thierry Mayer, Mathias Thoenig. Make Trade Not War?. Review of Economic Studies, 2008, 75 (3), pp.865 - 900. ff10.1111/j.1467-937X.2008.00492.xff. ffhal-03415798f https://sciencespo.hal.science/hal-03415798v1/document
Pompeo, M. R. (2019, November 4). On the U.S. withdrawal from the Paris Agreement [Press statement]. U.S. Department of State. https://2017-2021.state.gov/on-the-u-s-withdrawal-from-the-paris-agreement/?safe=1
Pusdatim (2024). Pusdatim: ESDM Kementerian Energi dan Sumber Daya Mineral (2024). Laporan Reviu Informasi Strategis Periode Jul-Sept 2024. https://www.esdm.go.id/assets/media/content/content-laporan-reviu-informasi-strategis-periode-juli-september-2024.pdf
Qing, L., Abbas, J., Najam, H., Ma, X., & Dagestani, A. A. (2023). Investment in renewable energy and green financing and their role in achieving carbon-neutrality and economic sustainability: Insights from Asian region. Renewable Energy, 221, 119830. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2023.119830
Rio, Azzhary & Firza, Hilfi. (2020). BRI as International Norm Construction of China's Green Development Strategy in Asia. Indonesian Journal of International Relations. http://dx.doi.org/10.32787/ijir.v5i1.143
Sambodo, R. A., & Satrio, J. (2024). Kerja Sama China-Uni Eropa Melalu China-European Union Emission Trading System Project Dalam Mengurangi Emisi Karbon Di China 2014-2021. Jurnal Ilmiah Dinamika Sosial, 8(2), 251-268. DOI: https://doi.org/10.38043/jids.v8i2.5445
Saragih, H., Rahayu, H., & Zulham, M. (2022). Kekuatan Ekonomi-Politik China Pasca Covid-19. Dauliyah: Journal of Islam and International Affairs, 7(1), 1-32. DOI:10.21111/dauliyah.v7i1.7538
Sayigh, A. (2019). Solar and wind energy will supply more than 50% of world electricity by 2030. In Innovative renewable energy (pp. 385–399). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-30841-4_27
Selby, J. (2019). The Trump presidency, climate change, and the prospect of a disorderly energy transition. Review of International Studies, 45(3), 471-490. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0260210518000165
Shafique, M., Rafiq, M., Azam, A., & Luo, X. (2022). Material flow analysis for end-of-life lithium-ion batteries from battery electric vehicles in the USA and China. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 178, 106061. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2021.106061
Shi, L., & Moser, S. (2021). Transformative climate adaptation in the United States: Trends and prospects. Science, 372(6549), eabc8054. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abc8054
Simarmata, N. P. E., Estefani, Y., Bahri, B. S., & Sibarani, S. S. (2023). Penggunaan Energi Bersih Menggunakan Panel Surya Di India. Jurnal Energi Baru dan Terbarukan, 4(3), 274-284. https://doi.org/10.14710/jebt.2023.21518
Stein, J., Joselow, M., & Roubein, R. (2022). How the Inflation Reduction Act might impact you-and change the US. The Washington Post, NA-NA. https://www.washingtonpost.com/us-policy/2022/07/28/manchin-schumer-climate-deal/
Sweeney, S. (2021). Five years on, the Paris climate Agreement needs an overhaul. New Labor Forum, 30(1), 102–109. https://doi.org/10.1177/1095796020980166
The White House. (2024, December 19). FACT SHEET: President Biden sets 2035 climate target aimed at creating good-paying union jobs, reducing costs for all Americans, and securing U.S. leadership in the clean energy economy of the future. https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2024/12/19/fact-sheet-president-biden-sets-2035-climate-target-aimed-at-creating-good-paying-union-jobs-reducing-costs-for-all-americans-and-securing-u-s-leadership-in-the-clean-energy-economy-of-the-future/
Tjiwidjaja, H., & Salima, R. (2023). Dampak Energi Fosil Terhadap Perubahan Iklim Dan Solusi Berbasis Energi Hijau. Jurnal Wilayah, Kota Dan Lingkungan Berkelanjutan, 2(2), 166-172. https://doi.org/10.58169/Jwikal.V2i2.625
U.S. Department of State. (2021, April 17). U.S.-China joint statement addressing the climate crisis [Media note]. https://2021-2025.state.gov/u-s-china-joint-statement-addressing-the-climate-crisis/
Ullah, S., & Lin, B. (2024). Green energy dynamics: Analyzing the environmental impacts of renewable, hydro, and nuclear energy consumption in Pakistan. Renewable Energy, 232, 121025. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2024.121025
Ullah, S., Luo, R., Nadeem, M., & Cifuentes-Faura, J. (2023). Advancing sustainable growth and energy transition in the United States through the lens of green energy innovations, natural resources and environmental policy. Resources Policy, 85, 103848. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resourpol.2023.103848
Usman, O., Iorember, P. T., Ozkan, O., & Alola, A. A. (2023). Dampening energy security-related uncertainties in the United States: The role of green energy-technology investment and operation of transnational corporations. Energy, 289, 130006. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2023.130006
Wang, X., Sun, X., Ahmad, M., & Chen, J. (2024). Energy transition, ecological governance, globalization, and environmental sustainability: Insights from the top ten emitting countries. Energy, 292, 130551. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2024.130551
Wang, Y., Liu, C., & Sun, Y. (2024). No more coal abroad! Unpacking the drivers of China’s green shift in overseas energy finance. Energy Research & Social Science, 111, 103456. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2024.103456
Wati, R., Wati, W., & Hanifa, S. D. (2023). Analisis Perbandingan Administrasi Publik Negara China Dan Rusia. Pentahelix, 1(1), 63-79. https://doi.org/10.24853/penta.1.1.63-79
Williams, A., & Smyth, J. (2023). Kerry defends US over surging gas output. Envoy says legislation by Biden makes country a global climate leader. The Financial Times, 8-8. https://www.ft.com/content/d2b29baf-f8c3-433b-87ab-47abe2fd76d4
Wu, Z., Huang, X., Chen, R., Mao, X., & Qi, X. (2022). The United States and China on the paths and policies to carbon neutrality. Journal of Environmental Management, 320, 115785. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.115785
Xue, J., Poon, J., Yang, Y., & Ji, Q. (2024). Effect of green industrial policy on China’s outward renewable energy investment. Energy Economics, 138, 107830. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eneco.2024.107830
Yifan, J. (2021, November 18). China at COP26: Coal, methane, and 1.5 degrees Celsius. Sixth Tone. https://www.sixthtone.com/news/1008998
Zahran, R. Z. & Alfajri. (2023). Strategi Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) Jikalahari dalam Tata Kelola Hutan Provinsi Riau Terkait Upaya Pengendalian Perubahan Iklim Global Tahun 2013-2023. Journal of Diplomacy and International Studies. Vol. 6 No. 1 (2023), pp 24-36
Zhang, J., & Chen, F. (2024). Impact of extreme high temperatures on pollution emissions of enterprise: Evidence from China. Journal of Environmental Management, 365, 121493. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.121493
Zhang, W., Yang, J., Sheng, P., Li, X., & Wang, X. (2014). Potential cooperation in renewable energy between China and the United States of America. Energy Policy, 75, 403–409. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2014.09.016
Zhou, S., Tong, Q., Pan, X., Cao, M., Wang, H., Gao, J., & Ou, X. (2021). Research on low-carbon energy transformation of China necessary to achieve the Paris agreement goals: A global perspective. Energy Economics, 95, 105137. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eneco.2021.105137
Copyright (c) 2026 Fini Aktalya, Alfajri Alfajri, Muhammad Arsy Ash Siddiqy

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
- Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Atribusi-Non Commercial-Share Alike (CC BY-NC-SA).
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
- Every publication (printed/electronic) are open access for educational purposes, research, and library. Other than the aims mentioned above, the editorial board is not responsible for copyright violation.



