Center for American Progress Center for American Progress

China's Energy Challenge

China’s remarkable economic growth over the past two decades has enabled it to achieve social progress, has strengthened its geopolitical position, and has served as the lynchpin of the leadership’s domestic political strategy. For the foreseeable future, China’s leaders will continue to make economic growth a top priority.

As expected, this economic expansion has been accompanied by a corresponding surge in energy consumption. China became a net importer of oil in 1993, and it is now the world’s third largest importer and second largest consumer. China has thus far been able to meet this increase in demand
and prevent the economic slowdown that an energy shortage would precipitate.


This article was originally published in Aspen Institute.

To speak with our experts on this topic, please contact:

For print, John Neurohr, Press Assistant
202.481.8182 or jneurohr@americanprogress.org

For radio, Andrea Purse, Deputy Director of Media Strategy
202.446.8429 or apurse@americanprogress.org

For TV, Sean Gibbons, Director of Media Strategy
202.682.1611 or sgibbons@americanprogress.org

For web, Erin Lindsay, Online Marketing Manager
202.741.6397 or elindsay@americanprogress.org

Related Articles

The Right Way to Pressure Beijing, by Bill Schulz

It's Easy Being Green: Biofuels Go for a Spin

This Week in Congress 5.12.08 - 5.16.08

Up, Up, and Away?, by Daniel J. Weiss

A New Peace Strategy for Northern Uganda and the LRA, by Julia Spiegel, John Prendergast

Also by John Podesta

A War We Must End, February 26, 2008

Pentagon Faces a Battle on Climate Change, February 13, 2008

Cap, Auction, and Trade: Allowance Auctions and Revenue Recycling Under Carbon Cap-and-Trade, January 23, 2008

Also by John Deutch

A New Strategy to Spur Energy Innovation, January 3, 2008

A New Strategy to Spur Energy Innovation, December 21, 2007

Also by Peter Ogden

Warming Ties, May 2, 2008

Pentagon Faces a Battle on Climate Change, February 13, 2008

A New Strategy to Spur Energy Innovation, January 3, 2008