中文
Aerial photo taken shows a green belt along Yuxi River in Yulin City, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, May 24, 2020. [Photo/Xinhua]
By Chen Qiaoshen
At the UN Climate Summit 2025 on Wednesday, China unveiled its updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to promote global climate governance further and push for green development, demonstrating the country's commitment to multilateralism and support for the United Nations.
This marks the first time that China has adopted an absolute emissions reduction target that covers economy-wide emissions from all greenhouse gases.
"Green and low-carbon transition is the trend of the time," Chinese President Xi Jinping said while announcing China's 2035 NDCs via video at the summit. He urged the international community to stay the course, remain unwavering in confidence, be persistent in actions and relentless in intensity and push for the formulation and delivery of NDCs, with a view to providing more positive energy to the cooperation on global climate governance.
Rock-solid resolve
According to Xi, China pledges to cut economy-wide net greenhouse gas emissions by 7 percent to 10 percent from peak levels by 2035, striving to do better, and increase the share of non-fossil fuels in total energy consumption to over 30 percent.
The country will increase its wind and solar power capacity to over six times the 2020 levels, aiming to reach 3,600 gigawatts, and will also increase the total forest stock volume to over 24 billion cubic meters.
China's confidence in its commitments comes from solid progress in green and low-carbon development. Since China announced in 2020 its plan to peak carbon dioxide emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060, it has been steadily advancing its "dual carbon" goals.
Official statistics suggest that the share of non-fossil energy consumption in China's overall energy consumption increased from 15.9 percent in 2020 to 19.8 percent in 2024. Installed wind and solar capacity, along with its forest stock volume, have already met the 2030 targets ahead of schedule.
These new contributions highlight China's influence in leading the worldwide green transition.
Over the past decade, China has consistently enhanced South-South cooperation on climate change, promoted green Belt and Road cooperation and reaped benefits of green development for the Global South, providing valuable public goods for global low-carbon industrial upgrades and emission-reduction efforts worldwide.
China's new proposals, contributions and commitments have strengthened global confidence, built consensus and given new momentum to worldwide climate governance.
Wind turbines in Jiucaiping scenic spot in southwest China's Guizhou Province, August 19, 2020. [Photo/Xinhua]
Turning visions into action
In global governance, China has consistently advocated for a more equitable and representative international order, supporting the UN-centered multilateral system and advancing inclusive globalization that benefits all.
A results-oriented approach is crucial for effective global governance. True governance involves solving real problems. Given the interconnected nature of global challenges, governance must be coordinated, systematic and comprehensive. It should target both root causes and symptoms, balancing urgent needs with long-term solutions.
China has been committed to enhancing global governance through concrete actions. From promoting the Belt and Road Initiative, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and the New Development Bank, to proposing the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, the Global Civilization Initiative and the Global Governance Initiative, China has created widely welcomed platforms for cooperation.
Meanwhile, China has actively promoted political solutions to global crises and remains committed to building an Asian security model that emphasizes unity in adversity, seeks common ground while setting aside differences and prioritizes dialogue and consultation.
The foresight of China's new commitment highlights China's idea of building a community with a shared future for humanity. China has consistently linked its own development to the world's, advancing a path of green, low-carbon, and sustainable growth for the international community.
By consistently advocating for respecting the development rights of developing countries, the country urges developed countries to fulfill their commitments earnestly, provide greater financial and technological support to developing nations and promote a global green transition that narrows the North-South disparity.
In doing so, China aims to create a fair, reasonable, cooperative and mutually beneficial global climate governance system, offering strong support for addressing global challenges and protecting our shared planet.
Addressing climate change is a long and challenging task. China is showing its responsibility as a major country through concrete actions.
True to its commitments, China will continue working closely with all countries to build consensus, pool strength and protect the shared home of humanity, making new contributions toward a green, sustainable and brighter future.
Chen Qiaoshen is a current affairs commentator.
