As global temperatures rise and extreme weather events intensify, China has charted an ambitious yet pragmatic path forward with its updated climate action plan. President Xi Jinping announced at the UN Climate Summit that China aims to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions by 7-10% from peak levels by 2035, building on previous commitments to peak emissions by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060.
This strategy blends traditional Chinese philosophy with modern innovation. Drawing from Confucian principles of harmony between humanity and nature, China's "establish before abolish" approach prioritizes building renewable energy infrastructure before phasing out fossil fuels. The Belt and Road Initiative exemplifies this transition, having halted new coal project funding while promoting green development partnerships.
Key 2035 targets include:
Non-fossil fuels exceeding 30% of energy mix
Forest stock surpassing 24 billion cubic meters
Electric vehicles dominating new car sales
Expanded carbon market coverage across high-emission industries
Chinese Premier Li Qiang highlighted China's leadership in renewable technology, noting the country's world-leading new energy industrial chain. With 1.88 billion kilowatts of renewable capacity by late 2024, China's scale has driven global solar panel costs down 80% and wind power costs 60% since 2010.
Internationally, China continues advocating for "common but differentiated responsibilities," emphasizing developed nations' historical obligation to lead climate financing. Through multilateral platforms like the UN Framework Convention and bilateral partnerships, China has trained officials from 120+ countries and launched low-carbon projects worldwide.
Analysts observe that China's climate strategy serves dual purposes: addressing environmental urgency while creating economic opportunities through green technology exports. As the world's largest carbon market and a key architect of the Kunming-Montreal biodiversity framework, China positions itself as both climate action architect and implementer in the Global South.
