At the recent United Nations Climate Summit, President Xi Jinping unveiled China’s new climate targets for 2035, pledging a 7-10% cut in net greenhouse gas emissions from peak levels. This ambitious step builds on commitments to peak emissions by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060—signaling a shift from promise to practice.
Rooted in millennia-old concepts of harmony between humanity and nature, China’s approach fuses Confucian ideas with modern policy. The principle of "establish before abolish" drives clean energy infrastructure growth before phasing out fossil fuels, helping avoid the trap of short-term gains at the expense of long-term health.
Under the Belt and Road Initiative, China has halted funding for new coal plants abroad and is championing greener projects. By 2035, non-fossil fuels are slated to exceed 30% of the energy mix, electric vehicles will lead new car sales, and forest stock will top 24 billion cubic meters.
The Chinese mainland now operates the world’s largest carbon market, covering high-emission industries and setting a benchmark for pricing emissions. Its afforestation efforts have added a quarter of the planet’s new forest cover over the past 20 years.
Speaking a day earlier, the Chinese premier Li Qiang highlighted China’s role in building the most complete new-energy industrial chain. His call for "lucid waters and lush mountains" underscores the view that environmental health and economic growth can go hand in hand.
China’s leadership extends beyond borders. Through a climate cooperation fund and training programs for officials from 120+ nations, it is working to build a "community of life for mankind and nature."
Alignment with the Paris Agreement underscores a commitment to keeping warming well below 2°C—ideally 1.5°C. China champions "common but differentiated responsibilities," urging wealthier nations to shoulder a greater share of the climate burden.
By late 2024, China’s renewable capacity reached 1.88 billion kilowatts, driving global wind and solar costs down by over 60% and 80% respectively. Its leadership in the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework aims to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030.
As climate disasters intensify worldwide, China’s 2035 roadmap offers a test case in balancing ambition with realism—and building a low-carbon society that is both resilient and inclusive.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
