What Shenzhen Can Teach Us About Clean Cities and a Greener Future
If you’ve never heard of Shenzhen, you’re not alone. Most Kiwis and Aussies haven’t either. Yet this massive Chinese city — home to around 17 million people — is quietly doing something that the rest of us can learn from.
When you walk its streets today, one thing stands out immediately: it’s clean and quiet. The air is breathable. The traffic, though heavy, hums rather than roars.
It wasn’t always like this. Just a few years ago, Shenzhen was a polluted sprawl — noisy, smoggy, and hard to breathe in. But the city decided to fix it.
A City That Went Fully Electric
If you’ve never heard of Shenzhen, you’re not alone. Most Kiwis and Aussies haven’t either. Yet this massive Chinese city — home to around 17 million people — is quietly doing something that the rest of us can learn from.
When you walk its streets today, one thing stands out immediately: it’s clean and quiet. The air is breathable. The traffic, though heavy, hums rather than roars.
It wasn’t always like this. Just a few years ago, Shenzhen was a polluted sprawl — noisy, smoggy, and hard to breathe in. But the city decided to fix it.
China’s Broader Leap in Clean Energy
Shenzhen isn’t an isolated case. Across China, the pace of renewable energy and electric vehicle (EV) adoption is staggering.
In 2024, China sold more than 12 million electric cars — about 23% of all EV sales on the planet. As of this year, over half of all new cars sold in China are electric or plug-in hybrid vehicles.
The country’s biggest EV manufacturer, BYD, delivered 3.5 million vehicles last year, more than double Tesla’s global total. They’ve even started building their own ships to export them.
When you walk the streets of Shenzhen, you notice something striking — the loudest sounds aren’t engines, but horns and conversation. You smell street food, not exhaust.
Solar Power on a Scale We Can Barely Imagine
China’s clean-energy revolution doesn’t end with vehicles. In 2024, the country added 277 gigawatts of new solar capacity — a 45% increase from the year before.
For comparison:
- New Zealand has about 0.5 GW of solar installed in total.
- China installed 550 times that amount — in just one year.
- Australia, a leader in solar, still saw China install eight times its total capacity last year.
In total, China now has around 886 GW of solar power installed, and it’s growing fast. With panels now cheap enough to double as fencing, there’s no excuse for anyone to fall behind.
Meeting Climate Goals — Ahead of Schedule
Yes, China still relies on coal — but even that’s changing rapidly. The country is on track to meet its 2030 climate targets early.
Some analysts even predict that China’s carbon emissions will peak this year before starting to fall — a first for any major developing nation.
For a country of more than a billion people, that’s remarkable. It raises a tough question for the rest of us: what’s our excuse?
It’s Not About Politics — It’s About Progress
Some people may roll their eyes and assume this is political praise. But it’s not. This isn’t about politics; it’s about clean air, stable power grids, and affordable energy.
China’s example proves that rapid transformation is possible — and profitable. The benefits are shared:
- Cleaner air means fewer health problems.
- Cheaper renewables mean lower household bills.
- Energy independence means more stability for families and businesses.
If they can do it, so can we.
Three Things We Can Do Right Now
The speaker offers three immediate steps anyone can take to follow Shenzhen’s lead:
- Switch to renewable electricity.
In New Zealand, Ecoplus Energy (EOT Electricity) is a certified climate-positive provider using wind, hydro, and solar. It’s affordable and sustainable. - Install solar panels.
Solar production costs have fallen by 90% in the past decade, making it cheaper than ever. Many households now generate enough energy to put their power bills into credit.
Drive electric — new or used.
The second-hand EV market is booming in both New Zealand and Australia, with affordable options available. Every electric kilometre reduces emissions and saves money.
Why We Should Copy What Works
Globally, two-thirds of emissions come from electricity generation and transport — exactly the two areas where China has made the biggest progress.
The technologies exist. The economics make sense. The environmental benefits are obvious.
So, what are we waiting for?
“Looking around here, I’m so energised,” the speaker says. “This isn’t a fantasy. It’s affordable, it’s achievable, and it’s already working. Let’s just do it.”
