There is no doubt that China remains firmly committed to accelerate its energy transition. Thus for the new administration, the question looms whether it will surrender U.S. leadership not just in climate change diplomacy but also in the energy businesses of the future.

That's why it's vitally important we build new political constituencies as a part of the clean energy transition. Because the effort to halt climate change doesn't end when we swap out coal plants for solar and wind farms or gas guzzlers for electric vehicles.