Techno-nationalism and China's transition toward carbon neutrality

This commentary discusses the influence of techno-nationalism on China's pursuit of achieving peak CO2 emissions by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2060. It highlights how China's commitment to renewable energy development is intertwined with nationalistic aspirations, positioning the renewable sector as a strategic advantage over the United States. I argue that China's phase-out of fossil fuels may accelerate unexpectedly in the coming years. I further problematize the prevailing "bridge fuel" narratives promoted by North America's liquefied natural gas (LNG) industry, which advocates for expanded fracking and LNG production by beating the drum for the assumed growth of China's LNG imports.