China Reaffirms Climate Commitment Amid Global Concerns Ahead of COP30

In a virtual summit co-hosted by the United Nations and Brazil on April 23, 2025, Chinese President Xi Jinping reaffirmed China's unwavering commitment to its climate change initiatives, emphasizing that these efforts will persist despite global political shifts. He underscored the importance of upholding international systems centered on the United Nations, even amid rising unilateralism and protectionism by some major nations.

President Xi's remarks come at a critical juncture as Brazil prepares to host the 30th Conference of the Parties (COP30) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in November 2025 in Belem. With China being the largest energy consumer and greenhouse gas emitter, there is global anticipation for the country to announce more ambitious emission reduction targets. Although countries were expected to submit updated 2035 nationally determined contributions (NDCs) by February, few have complied. President Xi pledged that China will announce its revised targets before the November climate talks in Belem.

China has been actively pursuing policies to mitigate climate change. In November 2023, the country released its first national policy for methane emission control, the "Methane Emission Control Action Plan," aiming to reduce methane emissions by about 57 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent per year after 2030. By 2023, non-fossil fuels accounted for 17.9% of China's total energy consumption, and the share of coal consumption dropped from 67.4% in 2013 to 55.3%. The annual power generation from renewable energy sources accounted for about one-third of the total electricity consumption. In the transport sector, the number of new energy vehicles reached 20.41 million, accounting for 6.1% of the total number of vehicles; the electrification rate of railways rose from 52.3% in 2012 to 75.2%.

In May 2024, China's State Council issued a detailed action plan for energy saving and carbon reduction for 2024-2025, aiming to reduce energy consumption per unit of GDP by 13.5% by 2025 compared to 2020. The plan sets major goals for cutting fossil fuel consumption, increasing the use of clean energy, and implementing major energy-saving and carbon transformations in key sectors like steel and transport.

Experts like Li Shuo from the Asia Society Policy Institute have noted a potential gap between global expectations and China’s actual commitments, which are expected to be tailored to its domestic needs and capabilities. This underscores the complexity of balancing international pressures with national interests in the realm of climate policy.

China's steadfast commitment to climate initiatives, as articulated by President Xi, signals a significant influence on global climate governance. As the world's largest greenhouse gas emitter, China's policies and actions have profound implications for international efforts to combat climate change. Domestically, this commitment may accelerate the transition to renewable energy sources, potentially leading to economic shifts, job creation in green industries, and enhanced public health due to reduced air pollution.

As the international community looks toward COP30 in Belem, all eyes will be on China's forthcoming emission reduction targets and the role it will play in shaping the future of global climate action.