As the world marks the 10th anniversary of the Paris Agreement, Chinese President Xi Jinping urged 'firming up confidence, living up to responsibilities, and deepening cooperation' to tackle the planetary crisis during his video remarks at the United Nations Climate Summit on Thursday.
Xi's address comes at a crucial crossroads. Eighty years after the UN's founding ushered in an era of collective security and development, global governance now faces turbulence from renewed geopolitical rivalries, protectionist trends and unilateral actions that strain multilateral cooperation.
Meanwhile, transnational challenges climate change, inequality, health crises and security threats continue to escalate, spotlighting the need for more inclusive and effective global institutions.
To reshape this landscape, China has put forward its Global Governance Initiative (GGI), emphasizing a principle-based, inclusive approach to international cooperation. For climate action, GGI aims to streamline responsibilities and reinvigorate cross-border collaboration.
On Thursday, President Xi announced China's new nationally determined contributions (NDCs): making new energy vehicles the mainstream in new car sales, expanding the National Carbon Emissions Trading Market to cover major high-emission sectors, and moving toward a climate-adaptive society.
Numbers speak louder than words:
- By 2023, forest coverage in China surpassed 25 percent, ranking it among the global leaders in green metrics.
- Total forest stock exceeded 20 billion cubic meters, the highest ever recorded.
- Annual carbon sequestration capacity of forests and grasslands topped 1.2 billion tons of CO2 equivalent, leading the world.
For young entrepreneurs and changemakers, these moves highlight new frontiers in green technology and sustainable investment. Travelers and digital nomads can anticipate greener journeys, while sports and culture fans worldwide can see how global policies shape major events.
As the climate clock ticks, China's vision for an inclusive, principle-driven collaboration could define the next chapter in global governance—setting the stage for a greener, more connected planet.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
