A day after US President Donald Trump dismissed climate science at the United Nations General Assembly as the “greatest con job ever,” Chinese President Xi Jinping unveiled ambitious new Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) at the UN Climate Summit. Xi pledged a 7 to 10 percent reduction in economy-wide net greenhouse gas emissions by 2035 from peak levels, marking a stark contrast to Trump’s rejection of climate concerns.
Speaking virtually from Beijing on Wednesday, Xi presented a comprehensive green transition plan, emphasizing China’s firm commitment to low-carbon development despite global resistance. “Green and low-carbon transition is the trend of our time. While some countries are acting against it, the international community should stay focused on the right direction, remain unwavering in confidence, unremitting in actions and unrelenting in intensity, and push for formulation and delivery of NDCs, with a view to providing more positive energy to the cooperation on global climate governance,” Xi said, indirectly responding to Trump’s earlier critique.
Trump had described climate change as a “fake energy catastrophe,” criticized the growing reliance on renewable energy, called the carbon footprint concept a hoax, and accused unnamed groups of harboring “evil intentions” behind environmental policies.
Xi’s climate pledge includes increasing the share of non-fossil fuels in China’s total energy consumption to over 30 percent, expanding wind and solar capacity to more than six times 2020 levels—targeting 3,600 gigawatts—and raising forest stock to over 24 billion cubic meters. The plan also aims to make new energy vehicles the majority of new car sales, extend the National Carbon Emissions Trading Market to major high-emission industries, and build a climate-resilient society.
The Chinese president stressed principles of fairness and equity in global climate efforts, urging developed nations to lead emission reductions and provide financial and technological support to developing countries. “In the course of global green transition, fairness and equity should be upheld and the right to development of developing countries fully respected. The transition should serve to narrow rather than widen the North-South gap,” he said, invoking the “common but differentiated responsibilities” framework.
Calling for enhanced international cooperation, Xi highlighted the importance of coordinating green technologies and industries to meet rising global demand and ensure equitable access to green products. “It is important that countries strengthen international coordination in green technologies and industries to address the shortfall in green production capacity and ensure the free flow of quality green products globally, so that the benefits of green development can reach all corners of the world,” he added.
Xi’s assertive position places China at the forefront of global climate governance, sharply contrasting with US skepticism and underscoring Beijing’s commitment to leading multilateral efforts to tackle environmental challenges.
