Spanish
Chinese President Xi Jinping announced via video message at the UN new climate goals for 2035, with a reduction of 7% to 10% of emissions compared to the peak, an approach that contrasted with the recent words of the American Donald Trump, who called climate change a "scam" and green energy a "fraud".
China framed its goals in an update to its nationally determined contributions (NDCs), with the added promise of building a "climate-resilient society."
The Chinese leader specified that the Asian giant, still the world's largest emitter of greenhouse gases, plans to install 3,600 gigawatts of new wind and solar capacity, a volume that, according to the official formulation, is more than six times the level of 2020.
China shows off
The Chinese government defended that it is the "first absolute target" of reduction that covers the entire economy and all greenhouse gases.
"China's determination and actions have made it the most determined, energetic, and effective country in the world in fulfilling its reduction commitments," said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun today.
The Asian country had committed to stabilize its CO₂ emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality in 2060, although it has always emphasized "common but differentiated responsibilities" and asked developed countries to meet their commitments.
In contrast to Trump
The intervention of the Chinese president contrasted with the words spoken by Trump this week during the United Nations Assembly, in which he called climate change a "scam" and stated that green energy was "a fraud".
"This 'climate change' is, in my opinion, the greatest hoax ever perpetrated against the world," Trump said on Tuesday.
In fact, Xi made a veiled reference to the North American country in his speech, stating that "although some countries are acting against the trend of the fight against climate change, the international community must follow the correct direction".
In addition, the Chinese Foreign Ministry indicated today that China is willing to collaborate with all parties to "promote international cooperation on climate change and promote the full and effective implementation of the Paris Agreement", from which Trump has withdrawn the United States on two occasions, once in his first term and again this year, shortly after his return to the White House.
Goals that fall "short"
The NGO Greenpeace considered that Beijing's goals "fall short" of guaranteeing a safe climate, although it deems it likely that the effective decarbonization of the Asian country will advance beyond what has been committed.
"The amount of wind and solar power entering the energy matrix supports that expectation," said Yao Zhe, a global policy advisor at Greenpeace East Asia, who asked China to "keep the door open" to an early strengthening of its targets.
Recent reports from Greenpeace and the Ember organization indicate that renewables and electrification are reshaping the Chinese energy system: between 2015 and 2023, the use of fossil fuels in final consumption fell by 1.7% and electricity demand increased by 65%.
In the first half of 2025, wind power grew by 16% and solar by 43%; in the twelve months up to June, their sum surpassed hydroelectric, nuclear, and bioenergy for the first time.
