Chinese President Xi Jinping announced ambitious 2035 climate goals at the UN Climate Summit 2025, pledging to cut net greenhouse gas emissions by 7-10% from peak levels and boost non-fossil energy to over 30% of total consumption. The plan signals China's growing leadership in global climate governance through a mix of technological innovation, market mechanisms, and cross-border collaboration.
Renewables Revolution
Central to China's strategy is a sixfold expansion of wind and solar capacity to 3,600 gigawatts, coupled with forest conservation programs and a shift toward new energy vehicles. The National Carbon Emissions Trading Market will expand to cover high-emission sectors, creating financial incentives for decarbonization.
Philosophy in Action
China's approach draws from Confucian principles of harmony between humanity and nature, avoiding Western 'pollute first, fix later' models. The 'establish before abolish' strategy prioritizes clean energy infrastructure before phasing out fossil fuels, exemplified by halting new coal projects in Belt and Road Initiative partner nations.
Global Climate Bridges
Chinese Premier Li Qiang highlighted China's role in building the world's largest new energy supply chain at a UN meeting. Through South-South climate cooperation funds and technology transfers, China has trained officials from 120+ developing countries while maintaining dialogue with major economies like the U.S. on shared climate goals.
Market Meets Ecology
With 1.89 billion kilowatts of installed renewable capacity by 2024, China's industrial scale has reduced global solar costs by 80%. Its carbon market – the world's largest – and biodiversity initiatives like the Kunming-Montreal Framework demonstrate a dual focus on economic and ecological transformation.
As nations prepare for COP30, China's phased, principle-driven approach offers developing countries a model for balancing growth with sustainability – a vision President Xi frames as building 'a community with a shared future for humanity.'
