China Commits to Landmark 2035 Emissions Cut Target at Urgent UN Climate Meeting
China Commits to Landmark 2035 Emissions Cut Target at Urgent UN Climate Meeting
China, the world’s leading emitter of planet-warming gases, has today announced a historic commitment to an absolute target for reducing its climate emissions. In a pivotal video statement delivered to the United Nations in New York, President Xi Jinping declared that China aims to cut its greenhouse gas emissions across the economy by 7-10% by 2035, while also expressing an intent to “strive to do better.”
This significant announcement unfolds as nations globally rush to submit their updated climate plans by the end of September – a critical deadline for the five-year review cycle mandated by the Paris climate agreement. UN Secretary-General António Guterres underscored the vital importance of these pledges in maintaining the ambitious goal of limiting the long-term rise in global temperatures to under 1.5 degrees Celsius.
While the pledge marks China’s first specific emissions reduction target, it has drawn mixed reactions. Critics, including Yao Zhe, global policy adviser at Greenpeace East Asia, argue that the plan “still falls short” of the scale needed to truly align with the 1.5C global target. Lauri Myllyvirta, lead analyst at the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, suggested a much more ambitious reduction of over 30% would be necessary.
However, some observers remain optimistic, viewing the targets as a potential “floor rather than a ceiling.” Li Shuo, director of China Climate Hub at the Asia Society Policy Institute, highlights China’s track record of exceeding previous climate commitments, such as surpassing its 2030 wind and solar power capacity goal by 2024. The new target also outlines plans to dramatically expand wind and solar capacity, increase forest stocks, and transition new vehicle sales towards “new energy vehicles.”
Despite its continued reliance on coal, recent data suggests a shift in China’s energy landscape. While coal-fired electricity generation hit a new record last year, initial figures for the first half of 2025 indicate a decline, driven by a surge in solar power. Furthermore, evidence suggests China’s emissions are beginning to plateau, with 2025 levels anticipated to be lower than in 2024, signaling the potential onset of decarbonization after decades of rapid growth.
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