China surpassed the United States as the number one CO2 emitter in 2007. Yet since then, and somewhat paradoxically, it has been successfully Drafting Uncle Sam, becoming a leader in renewable energy sources.

China’s ability to provide the west with solar panels and wind turbines has some experts running ominous Screens on China becoming a modern-day Middle East—controlling the world’s supply of alternative energy.

Global leaders have bought into this fear—or at least understand that they need to develop profitable relationships with China. In March 2010, the United States announced almost $40 million in funding for the U.S.-China Clean Energy Research Center. Not to be outdone, Europe Crowded the advancement and announced last Saturday its own partnership with the Middle Kingdom to make progress in developing clean energy technology.

Either way you look at it, helping the environment is making China even wealthier and more popular with its western neighbors. Is it the dawn of the Chinese Century?

Posted by: Alice Hu

Photo Credit: knowledge.allianz.com