【By Guan Cha Zhe Wang, Ruan Jiaqi】
On September 24 local time, the United Nations Climate Summit was held at the United Nations headquarters in New York, USA. Several foreign media outlets have noted that China ignored the U.S. anti-renewable energy rhetoric and led the formulation of a new climate plan, playing a leading role in climate issues. Trump's regressive climate policies are putting the U.S. in an unprecedentedly isolated situation, almost "cutting off" from other countries around the world.
"In terms of climate issues, China is the adult in the room," said Li Shuo, director of the Center for Chinese Climate at the Asia Society Policy Institute (ASPI) in Washington, when he wrote an article in the U.S. media The New York Times on the 26th.
He further pointed out that it is not only the United States but also the major polluting countries in the West, their ambitions in climate governance are mostly fleeting, their climate goals are easily influenced by political cycles, ultimately leaving only an illusion of "some progress", but never achieving deep structural reforms.
"For example, after Trump took office, he overturned the Inflation Reduction Act led by Biden and canceled federal government investments of billions of dollars in clean energy," the article said. "Even the former climate action 'leader' EU is now caught up in geopolitical interference and internal divisions, and even did not submit a climate commitment at this week's United Nations General Assembly, which is extremely embarrassing."
This made Li Shuo recall an anecdote that Western diplomats had once mentioned to him: In 2017, the Chinese side vividly told a delegation that when former U.S. President Obama visited China, he tried to pressure China to accelerate the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions; but not long after, when Trump came to visit China, he showed no concern about the threat of climate change.
This story precisely illustrates that the Western electoral cycle limits its consistency in climate actions, while China is good at "playing a long game", its plans often focus on development over the next few decades, and do not easily make promises that cannot be fulfilled.
On September 24 local time, the United Nations Climate Summit was held in New York, Visual China
Li Shuo pointed out in the article that since Obama's visit to China and his plea for China to take more drastic measures to reduce emissions, within a decade or so, China's clean energy industry has transformed from a "new emerging industry" into a "strong engine" driving the economy, and become an important source of national pride.
Now, more than 80% of solar panels, about 75% of electric vehicle batteries, and over 60% of wind turbines in the world are manufactured in China. In 2023 alone, the clean energy industry contributed 40% of China's GDP growth. China's annual new solar capacity added has already exceeded the total of all other countries and regions combined.
"This figure is astonishing against the backdrop of China's overall economic slowdown," the article commented.
Clean energy industries are also becoming the core of China's future industrial development and global business expansion. Last year, China invested $72 billion in overseas green manufacturing, accounting for 40% of its total foreign direct investment.
At the same time, the booming development of clean energy has begun to gradually offset China's new pollution emissions. In the first half of 2025, the rapid deployment of renewable energy reduced China's carbon dioxide emissions by 1%, continuing the downward trend that began in early 2024.
The Energy and Clean Air Research Center (CREA) based in Finland stated in a related report that the growth of China's solar power generation is sufficient to offset the increase in electricity demand during the same period. The report emphasized that in the first quarter of this year, China achieved a decrease in carbon emissions despite increased electricity demand for the first time, and is expected to drive a decline in annual emissions. This trend gives policymakers more confidence, believing that setting more ambitious climate goals is achievable.
Tongren City, Shiqian County, Longjing Township, Dingdong Slope Wind-Solar Complementary Power Station, Visual China
These tangible emission reduction achievements have also directly refuted some discordant voices from the West complaining that China's latest climate commitments are too "moderate".
At this week's United Nations Climate Summit, China announced a new round of "Nationally Determined Contributions" (NDC): By 2035, China's net greenhouse gas emissions across the entire economy will decrease by 7%-10% compared to the peak. The proportion of non-fossil energy consumption in total energy consumption will reach more than 30%, the total installed capacity of wind and solar power generation will exceed six times that of 2020, and strive to reach 360 gigawatts, the forest stock volume will reach more than 2.4 billion cubic meters, and new energy vehicles will become the mainstream of new vehicle sales.
Some environmental advocates and Western leaders have claimed that this goal is "insufficient" to meet the needs of the climate crisis, but Li Shuo pointed out that to evaluate China's climate governance ambition solely based on this would ignore a more far-reaching economic significance fact: China has become a superpower in global clean energy technology, its dominant position in solar, battery and electric vehicle sectors not only allows itself to accelerate the pace of climate governance, but also helps most other parts of the world reduce fossil fuel use.
March 14, the Chinese ambassador to Cuba, Hua Xin, attended the delivery ceremony of the first batch of equipment for the solar photovoltaic power station project in Cuba. Chinese Embassy in Cuba
"While the West remains indifferent and is caught up in internal conflicts, China is moving forward rapidly in the field of clean energy," according to Li Shuo, the seemingly "conservative" climate goals behind China actually hide a "bold bet": steady actions driven by industrial strength and foresight unaffected by political turmoil, which will eventually contribute more to global climate actions than those showy and fickle promises.
He emphasized that unlike Western countries, China has deeply integrated "decarbonization" with its economic growth strategy. This means that China is systematically building clean energy infrastructure, improving high-end supply chains, and creating a stable domestic clean energy market.
This also makes Li Shuo believe that the next stage of clean energy deployment will enable China to go further in climate governance and replace its reliance on high-pollution energy sources to a greater extent. China's actual achievements in energy saving and emission reduction may far exceed its targets announced at the United Nations General Assembly.
However, one thing needs to be corrected: China's energy saving and emission reduction is never based on "gambling", but rather on a clear understanding of global climate governance responsibilities, a precise grasp of its own development stage, and a long-term, systematic action logic.
Li Shuo listed a series of emission reduction achievements in the article, which have already proven that China's climate actions have never been based on "gamblers'侥幸心理", but rather on practical, step-by-step implementation. This steady approach can not only support China to exceed its set goals, but also provide a more reliable driving force for global climate governance than "fickle promises".
Regarding China's new round of Nationally Determined Contributions, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jia Kun said on the 25th that China solemnly announced a package of new Nationally Determined Contributions, reflecting China's commitment to multilateralism and support for the United Nations. This is the first time China has proposed an absolute emission reduction target, covering the entire economy and all greenhouse gases.
He pointed out that China's determination and actions to actively address climate change have always been consistent, and it is the country with the most resolute will, the most powerful actions, and the most effective implementation in fulfilling emission reduction commitments.
Guo Jia Kun said that China will continue to uphold the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind, and do its utmost to implement the Nationally Determined Contributions. Achieving this goal requires China to make arduous efforts, as well as a favorable and open international environment. China is willing to work with all parties to promote international cooperation on climate change, promote the comprehensive and effective implementation of the Paris Agreement, and help the global transition to green and low-carbon.
This article is exclusive to Guan Cha Zhe Wang, and without permission, it shall not be reprinted.
Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7554369005235028543/
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