China’s Approach to Objectives Differ from Western Methods – Potential for Global Benefit in Science, Climate, and Technology Sectors

China has a unique approach to environmental targets compared to countries like Britain, offering some optimism following a “timid” commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, which follows Donald Trump’s dismissal of climate change as a “hoax”.
President Xi Jinping pledged in a video to the UN in New York that China would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 7-10% by 2035, aiming to do better. However, this is still short of the 30% reduction analysts consider necessary from the world’s biggest greenhouse gas polluter and leader in clean technology.
While this may seem disappointing, the West often sets aspirational targets to provide certainty to investors and stimulate action on climate change. China, on the other hand, has a history of setting and meeting targets. Zhe Yao from Greenpeace Asia explains that in China’s top-down political system, setting and evaluating targets is crucial for managing the country, leading to a strong political culture of taking these targets seriously.
China has previously exceeded targets, such as its wind and solar capacity goal. Despite missing some targets, such as “strictly controlling” coal power, analysts remain hopeful due to the significant commitment demonstrated by President Xi himself, suggesting that China is serious about overachieving on its climate goals.
China’s approach contrasts with the US, which under Trump has dropped climate action, and the EU, which failed to introduce its own plan in time, leaving China without pressure to be more ambitious. Even with the 10% reduction pledge, the world remains on a path to severe climate impacts, according to Kate Logan, director of the China Climate Hub at the Asia Society Policy Institute.
Nevertheless, China’s commitment offers a glimmer of hope that this target, like others, will be surpassed rather than ignored.