Author: PPD Team Date: 17/03/2025
UK Energy Minister Ed Miliband met Chinese officials in Beijing on March 17, urging stronger climate action even as China’s emissions continue to rise.
China, the world’s largest emitter, has pledged to reach net zero by 2060 but missed key climate targets in 2024, with coal use increasing. The UK, aiming for full decarbonization by 2050, is looking to strengthen cooperation. Miliband launched the China-UK Energy Dialogue, arguing that ignoring China’s role in the climate fight would be a mistake. However, this outreach is complicated by broader tensions between NATO countries and China over trade, technology, and human rights.
For decades, NATO’s energy security strategy has been shaped by its relationship with Russia. European countries relied heavily on Russian gas until Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine forced a dramatic shift. Sanctions followed, pipelines were abandoned, and Europe scrambled to find new energy sources.
Now, reports suggest that Germany, the US, and Russia may be engaged in quiet discussions about resuming Russian energy supplies, if the war in Ukraine ends. While no agreements have been confirmed, even the possibility marks a shift from the firm stance NATO took just two years ago. For Germany, which has struggled with high energy prices after cutting off Russian gas, a return to those supplies would be a major reversal.
At the same time, the US energy sector is moving in a different direction. At CeraWeek, one of the world’s biggest energy conferences, American industry leaders embraced former President Donald Trump’s push for “energy dominance,” signalling support for fossil fuels over past climate commitments. Activists protested, warning that rolling back environmental policies now could have long-term consequences.
Germany recently approved a €500 billion infrastructure package, including a €100 billion climate fund, signalling its continued investment in clean energy. However, if reports of secret talks with Russia are true, it suggests that energy security is starting to take priority over political statements.
The UK, meanwhile, is taking a different approach. While NATO allies have grown increasingly wary of China’s geopolitical ambitions, Miliband’s visit shows that the UK sees China as an unavoidable player in the energy transition. The challenge is balancing that cooperation with NATO’s broader effort to limit reliance on authoritarian regimes.
As global powers take different paths, the future of clean energy is becoming less predictable. Will political tensions slow the shift to renewables, or will countries find a way to balance energy security with climate commitments? The next few months could set the tone for years to come.