China Unveils Ambitious 2035 Climate Roadmap at UN Summit

On the 10th anniversary of the Paris Agreement, China took the global stage at the United Nations Climate Summit in New York to unveil its most ambitious climate roadmap yet. The updated Nationally Determined Contributions outline targets across energy, industry, ecosystems and adaptation, aiming to reshape the country’s growth path by 2035.

Key goals include:

• Cutting net greenhouse gas emissions by 7–10% from peak levels
• Raising non-fossil energy to over 30% of total consumption
• Expanding wind and solar capacity to 3.6 billion kW—six times 2020 levels
• Growing forest stock volume to 24 billion m³
• Making new energy vehicles the mainstream in new-car sales
• Extending the National Carbon Emission Trading System to major high-emission sectors

“This submission for the first time puts forward an economy-wide absolute target covering all greenhouse gases,” said Li Zheng, dean at Tsinghua University’s Institute of Climate Change and Sustainable Development. Li emphasized that the plan reflects “maximum effort aligned with national conditions” and stems from China’s own commitment rather than external pressure.

Deputy dean Chen Wenhui of Beijing Forestry University’s School of Economics and Management added that the roadmap will power industrial upgrading, accelerate a cleaner energy mix and drive greener lifestyles. As world leaders revise their pledges, China’s clarified continuation of its dual carbon goals could chart the pace for the next decade of global climate action.

Reference(s):

China leads in global clean energy transition with new climate roadmap

cgtn.com