Commitments on emissions tend to get most of the attention in US-China climate change talks. But the development of their own clean tech industries is a big domestic concern for both countries, and if the past few days are anything to go by, they are further apart on this than ever.

The debate over the US falling behind in the clean tech ‘race’ is gaining momentum, fuelled by two prominent opeds on the subject this week. GE’s Jeff Immelt and John Doerr of Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers wrote in the Washington Post:

We are clearly not in the lead today. That position is held by China, which understands the importance of controlling its energy future. China’s commitment to developing clean energy technologies and markets is breathtaking.

Jim Rogers of Duke Energy began his oped in the Wall Street Journal with similar sentiments before urging the US to make the most of its lead in nuclear power.

Meanwhile on the China front there was small cause for optimism when Yu Qingtai, China’s special representative on climate change, yesterday signalled a more positive tone on reaching a deal at Copenhagen.