Jubilee Post News & Views
Dr. Seema Javed
China pledges to cut overall greenhouse gas emissions 7–10% by 2035 after peaking (which analysts say occurred in 2024), marking the first time the world’s largest emitter has committed to an absolute reduction. This new target was presented by President Xi Jinping yesterday at the opening of the United Nations Secretary-General’s(UNSG’s) Climate Summit in New York. It was widely seen by experts as too weak to stave off global catastrophe, though it marks its first all-economy, all-GreenHouse Gas (GHG) emissions cut climate target.
The world’s second-biggest economy is also the biggest source of carbon dioxide by far. China has accounted for the largest share of fossil fuel emissions for almost 20 years and its decisions on how far and how fast to shift to a low-carbon model will determine whether the world can stay within relatively safe global warming.
China’s plan also sets a goal of raising the share of non-fossil fuels to more than 30% of total energy demand by 2035.Analysts expect China’s booming clean-tech sector to drive wind and solar capacity well beyond the stated 3,600 GW target.
In UNSG’s Climate Summit in New York governments submit their third round of NDCs ( Nationally determined cuts in their emissions) under the Paris Agreement , they must commit to reversing the continued expansion of global fossil fuel production. “Intended nationally determined contribution”, is the phrase that countries are using to describe the climate pledges to cut emissions and decarbonize that they will make ahead of the UN negotiations in COP30 in Belem.
Over 100 countries used the UNSG’sClimate Summit in NY to highlight new plans and targets ahead of the COP30 summit in Belem, Brazil later this year, in stark contrast to US President Donald Trump’s attacks on climate action at the UN earlier this week.
China, Mongolia, Vanuatu, Micronesia, Pakistan, Liberia among those landing plans on Wednesday, joining Australia, Nigeria, Jamaica in submitting their 2035 targets to the UN this week.. The UN secretary General Antonio Guterres opened the summit by calling on leaders to submit high ambition NDCs. “We need new plans for 2035 that go much further, much faster: delivering dramatic emissions cuts aligned with 1.5 degrees, covering all emissions and sectors, and accelerating a just energy transition globally, “ Guterres said.
Host of COP30 and Brazil President Lula De Silva also gave one of the opening speeches in which hesaid Brazil was “committed to reducing emissions of all GHGs by between 59 and 67% covering all sectors of the economy.” He added “By hosting COP in the Amazon Brazil wants to show that it is impossible to preserve nature without caring for people.”
Xi made an oblique reference to the US, saying “some countries” were not rising to the climate challenge. “The international community should stay focused on the right direction,” he added. “[Countries] must live up to their responsibilities. The rights of developing countries must be fully respected.” But experts said China was failing to show leadership in its climate commitments.
Christiana Figueres, former Executive secretary, UNFCCC said- “Today’s Climate Summit in New York shows that, ten years on, the Paris process continues its decarbonizing path. The new NDCs are a welcome signal that countries remain committed to collective action and are increasingly seizing the economic and societal benefits of the clean energy transition. But let us be clear: the collective level of government ambition is still far from sufficient to meet the Paris targets. It also does not reflect the exponential energy transition that is taking place in the global economy. Governments must now catch up with this reality, raise their ambition, and align policy with the speed of transformation already underway.”
