The world is already deeply, irreversibly dependent on Chinese clean technology for the net zero transition. China is not just making clean technology, it is increasingly writing the rules for how it works.“ The net zero transition needs such leadership in standards, and the world’s standard-setting is beginning to respond as nations take up the new clean tech. These organisations did not anticipate the scale of China’s manufacturing dominance in clean tech and hence have been slow to help establish global standards that recognise the Chinese standards. New partnerships with Chinese clean tech production need to be established so that the net zero transition can be properly and equitably managed across the world.