In the realm of climate policy, China’s newly stated objectives for reducing greenhouse-gas emissions have been met with a mixture of enthusiasm and critique. While the pledge to decrease emissions by 7-10 percent from their peak by 2035 marks a significant moment—being China’s first explicit goal for cutting emissions—the target has also been characterized by some climate experts as “disappointing” and “underwhelming.” These experts contend that China’s commitment does not adequately align with the Paris Agreement’s targets or the scale of action required to prevent severe climate impacts.
Despite this criticism, the announcement from Chinese President Xi Jinping in a video address to the United Nations stirred optimism. This optimism hinges on the hope that China, the world’s largest emitter, might be underestimating its capacity to cut emissions. Not only has China pledged to increase its share of non-fossil fuel sources to over 30 percent but also to boost its solar and wind power capacities sixfold by 2035, signaling a massive expansion in renewable energy.
The international context amplifies the importance of China’s stance. With the United States retreating from its commitments to reduce emissions, China’s actions are more critical than ever. However, the current target, as Bill Hare from Climate Analytics pointed out, falls below what might already be achievable under existing policies and could potentially allow for continued reliance on coal, undermining the fight against climate change.
The Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air estimates that a reduction of about 30 percent in emissions is necessary for China to stay aligned with the Paris Accord’s goals. Despite this, China’s initiatives towards clean energy, including its dominant role in solar panels, electric vehicles, and wind turbines production, offer a beacon of hope. They reflect a country striving to lead in the green technology sector, which could potentially surpass the announced targets and foster more ambitious global action on climate change.
China’s approach to setting conservative yet confidently deliverable targets suggests there might be more transformative changes on the horizon. Their ability to spur international action, driven by their interests and strength in clean technologies, positions them to play a pivotal role in global climate efforts.
“The country has emerged as a global clean tech superpower, and its dominant role in this sector could enable it to surpass current targets.” As Li from the Asia Society aptly noted, this could eventually push China towards a more proactive and influential position in international climate discussions and actions.
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2025/9/25/underwhelming-chinas-new-climate-target-falls-far-short-experts-say?traffic_source=rss
