By Abdullahi Lukman
In a landmark announcement at the Leaders Meeting on Climate and the Just Transition, held virtually ahead of the COP30 UN Climate Conference, Chinese President Xi Jinping reaffirmed China’s dedication to combating climate change and pledged to unveil a new climate action plan later this year.
The plan, known as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), will for the first time encompass all economic sectors and greenhouse gases, a move hailed as a major step forward by UN Secretary-General António Guterres.
China’s existing climate targets under the Paris Agreement, which only focus on peaking carbon dioxide emissions “before 2030,” have faced criticism for being insufficient to address the broader climate crisis.
While China has made significant progress in expanding renewable energy, surpassing its wind and solar capacity target of 1,200 GW by 2030, the country’s continued reliance on coal power remains a critical concern, with a 1 percent increase in coal usage last year.
Experts argue that China’s updated NDCs must go further.
The Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air has called for China to reduce overall emissions by at least 35 percent by 2035, cut coal power by 40 percent, and achieve 5,000 GW of renewable energy capacity.
These measures are seen as necessary for China to align its efforts with global climate goals.
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Environmental groups have welcomed President Xi’s pledge but emphasized the need for concrete action.
Andreas Sieber, Associate Director of Global Policy and Campaigns at 350.org, described the announcement as a “major breakthrough,” noting that it could set a new global pace for climate action.
However, Sieber stressed that true ambition would require China to address its coal dependence and accelerate the transition to cleaner energy sources.
Chuck Baclagon, 350.org’s Asia Regional Campaigner, highlighted China’s leadership role in the absence of U.S. climate commitments, pointing out that the country’s updated NDCs could provide much-needed momentum for global climate initiatives.
Baclagon also emphasized the importance of ensuring that China’s energy transition is inclusive, with strong community engagement to ensure long-term sustainability.
As the world anticipates China’s new climate plan, all eyes will be on the country’s actions in the lead-up to COP30 in Belem, Brazil.
Advocates are calling for China to halt the construction of new coal-fired power plants, which undermine progress in clean energy. Additionally, other major emitters are urged to honor their climate finance commitments and take deeper cuts in emissions.
With COP30 on the horizon, the international community is looking to China for decisive leadership in the global fight against climate change.
