China leapfrogged from 8th place to 3rd place in the updated Climate Institute/GE Low-Carbon Competitiveness Index, released on March 26, 2013 as part of the Institute’s Global Climate Leadership Review 2013 report.
John Connor, CEO, The Climate Institute, explained “It’s clear that the centre of clean energy gravity is shifting to Asia, China in particular. China has improved its ability to compete in the global low-carbon economy significantly, boosted by high-tech exports and just under half of global public equity investment in clean energy.”
According to the media release distributed by the institute, “Other key findings from The Climate Institute/GE Low-Carbon Competitiveness Index include:
- The top performers are France, Japan, China, South Korea and the UK. France and the UK rank similar as before. Three of the top five best placed countries are now in Asia.
- China has leapt ahead of its previous score: it is now 3rd up from 7th. If China had not increased its clean energy investments, it would be in 8th place.
- The most dramatic decline in performance relates to the United States, which is now 11th down from 8th. Its decline is mainly due to lower public equity investment in clean energy, shrinking high-tech exports and a surge in reliance on emission intensive air freight.”
You may read the media release on The Climate Institute internet site.