Reference News Network, December 5 report: The UK "Carbon Brief" website recently published an article titled "Key Outcomes from the UN Climate Talks in Belém," authored by Simon Evans and Daisy Dunn. Excerpts follow:

A voluntary initiative aimed at curbing fossil fuel use, a target to double funding for climate adaptation, and new efforts to "strengthen" climate goals were launched at the 30th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP30) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) held in Belém, Brazil.

This package, titled "Global Mobilization," is an attempt to bring together contentious issues that had previously caused divisions during the two-week negotiations, including finance, trade policies, and meeting the 1.5°C temperature control goal under the Paris Agreement.

COP30's notable achievements also include a "mechanism" to ensure a "just transition" globally, as well as a series of measures to track climate adaptation efforts.

At this UN climate conference, which took place 10 years after the signing of the Paris Agreement, it was seen as a moment to showcase international cooperation. However, a lack of consensus on key issues, as well as increasingly prominent "unilateral trade measures" and funding shortages, revealed deep divisions.

The absence of the United States at the Belém climate conference led to expectations that China would take on a leadership role. However, the Chinese side has consistently rejected such claims, stating that these comments are merely "Western flattery."

Wang Yi, vice-chair of the China National Expert Committee on Climate Change, told the UK Guardian that he does not believe China "likes to play a leadership role." During the "China Corner" events at the conference, Chinese representatives rarely mentioned the word "leadership." Nevertheless, they still tried to position China as a firm advocate of multilateral climate action and global energy transition.

Huang Runqiu, Minister of Ecology and Environment of China, said at a side event at the "China Corner" that China is a firm actor and important contributor to green, low-carbon development. Any mention of leadership by Chinese representatives is usually limited to the context of China's leading position as a provider of specific "climate products" (such as clean energy technologies).

As discussions on climate financing took center stage at COP30, China proposed in the second week a new collective quantitative target of $30 billion for climate financing, primarily to be implemented by developed countries, along with a "practical implementation roadmap." China stated that this would help "avoid mutual accusations... and prevent further loss of trust in climate financing."

China's role in South-South cooperation has always been a key theme of its activities at COP30.

On the first day of COP30, the "China Corner" hosted a high-level summit on South-South cooperation, indicating China's emphasis on this issue. Huang Runqiu said at the summit: "We focus on the needs of developing countries." He pointed out that as a sign of its commitment, China has signed multiple climate agreements with other countries in the Global South.

China also launched several initiatives at the "China Corner" aimed at supporting climate actions in Global South countries, including an AI extreme weather early warning system training dataset and a clean stove initiative targeting Kenya and Malawi.

The "China Corner" often receives visitors from Global South countries, and events related to South-South cooperation are always fully attended. Taylor Halen, associate professor of urban and environmental studies at Loyola Marymount University in the United States, spoke with representatives from Global South countries about their impressions of China's presentations.

He told the Carbon Brief website that many representatives were interested in the clean energy technologies China provides and its demonstration role in bringing about change through "rapid transformation."

Joseph D'Altrui, director of energy and climate research at the French Montaigne Institute, said: "The EU hopes to reach an agreement with Beijing."

A general view at COP30 is that rather than China's climate diplomacy strategy, its clean technology economy will determine the real direction of climate action in the coming years.

Several side events highlighted China's contributions to global energy transition through clean technology.

The International Alliance for Green Development along the Belt and Road, chaired by Zhao Yingmin, former deputy minister of ecology and environment, launched a new platform to promote "best practices" for low-carbon development. At the launch ceremony, Anna Toni, CEO of COP30, said that the project was "exactly the kind of example we hope to see at this COP—implementation, implementation, and more implementation." (Translated by Cao Weiguo)

Original: toutiao.com/article/7580260112841835051/

Statement: This article represents the views of the author.