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In a landmark move, China—the world’s largest emitter of greenhouse gases—has committed to its first absolute emissions reduction target. President Xi Jinping announced via a video message to the UN that China aims to cut emissions by 7–10% by 2035, with efforts to surpass this goal.
This pledge marks a shift from China's previous targets, which focused on peaking emissions and reaching carbon neutrality by 2060. For the first time, it includes all greenhouse gases and sets a national economy-wide reduction goal.
China’s updated plan comes as many countries prepare revised climate commitments under the Paris Agreement, aiming to limit global warming to 1.5°C. However, some climate experts argue that China's target still falls short of what’s needed to meet that goal.
Emissions Reduction - Photo source: vectorglobe.com
Despite concerns, China continues to make major strides in renewable energy. It has already surpassed its 2030 target for wind and solar capacity—reaching 1,200 gigawatts in 2024. The country also plans to:
Increase forest volume beyond 24 billion cubic meters
Expand solar and wind capacity to over six times 2020 levels
Make electric vehicles the dominant choice in new car sales
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Still, challenges remain. Coal use in China hit record highs in 2024, though signs point to a possible plateau in emissions, with levels in 2025 expected to decline.
While the new target may not align fully with global climate goals, experts say it lays important groundwork for long-term decarbonization.
"This marks the beginning of China’s emissions decline after decades of growth," noted Li Shuo of the Asia Society Policy Institute.
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