Xi commits China to tougher climate targets as US retreats

Chinese President Xi Jinping (Courtesy: Reuters photo)

China’s President Xi Jinping committed the world’s top polluter to more stringent curbs on greenhouse gas emissions over the next decade in global climate talks that took place without the US.

The nation, which accounted for about 30% of total emissions in 2023, will set out new goals for cuts by 2035 “covering the entire scope of the economy, including all greenhouse gases,” ahead of the COP30 summit in November, Xi said Wednesday at a virtual meeting of global leaders organized by the United Nations and Brazil, according to state-run CCTV.

Addressing polluting gases beyond carbon dioxide is regarded as crucial to a latest round of national plans being submitted to the UN under the Paris Agreement. Non-CO2 pollution accounts for about 17% of China’s emissions, and is more than the total climate footprint of most countries.

Chinese officials have previously made similar pledges to include economy-wide targets in the nation’s next emissions cutting plan and to address greenhouse gases other than carbon dioxide, like methane and nitrous oxide. However, Xi’s decision to affirm the plans to the forum, which included heads of state and government leaders, signals China won’t back off from its ambitions despite a spluttering economy, the impact of tariffs and a US climate retreat under President Donald Trump.

A “certain major country” is keen on unilateralism and protectionism and has caused “serious impacts” on international rules and order, the official Xinhua News Agency cited Xi as telling the meeting, which US leaders did not attend.

“It is important for all countries to champion the rule of law, honor commitments, prioritize green and low-carbon development, and jointly respond to the climate crisis through multilateral governance,” Xi was quoted as saying.

Only 19 of the 195 Paris Agreement signatories have so far presented new emissions plans, known as nationally determined contributions, or NDCs, to the UN, with many agreeing to lodge them by September and ahead of COP30 in Belem, Brazil. Trump is withdrawing the US from the Paris treaty for a second time.