Xi's remarks at the United Nations were more than a policy statement. They were a reminder that climate change is humanity's common cause. By setting ambitious goals, grounding them in fairness, and inviting global cooperation, China has demonstrated that leadership is not measured by empty rhetoric but by vision paired with resolve.

by Fred Teng

On September 24, Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered video remarks to the United Nations Climate Summit held in New York, marking the 10th anniversary of the Paris Agreement.

Xi's remarks came at a decisive moment for global climate governance. With nations preparing to submit their new Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), Xi's speech reaffirmed China's determination not only to meet its existing promises but also to set new and higher standards. It was a call for responsibility and cooperation, underscoring that the world's second-largest economy is charting a deliberate and steady course toward a greener future.

Xi's address offered three central messages that combined principle with pragmatism.

First, he urged the international community to remain steadfast in its conviction that the transformation toward a green and low-carbon future is irreversible. Even as some countries step back from their climate pledges or show wavering political will, the path forward must be defined by consistency and persistence. Climate action is not a matter that can be postponed, diluted, or reversed. It represents the tide of history, and humanity must move with it rather than against it.

Second, Xi stressed that fairness must remain the cornerstone of global climate action. He reminded everyone present that the North-South divide should be narrowed through the green transition, not widened. Developed countries bear the historical responsibility for excessive emissions and must therefore lead in reducing carbon output. They also have an obligation to provide financial and technological support to developing countries. This principle of "common but differentiated responsibilities," enshrined in the Paris Agreement yet often ignored in practice, remains central to China's position. Xi's words underscored China's insistence that climate justice and development equity must go hand in hand.

Third, Xi called for deepened international cooperation to meet the immense demand for green growth. From renewable energy to new energy vehicles to carbon markets, he highlighted areas where collaboration can bridge capacity gaps and enable high-quality green products to circulate freely across borders. This cooperative spirit aligns with China's broader vision of building a community with a shared future for humanity, one in which progress is not measured by isolated national achievements, but by the gains of all.

WHAT IS NEW IN CHINA'S 2035 GOALS?

Perhaps most significantly, Xi used the occasion to unveil China's new NDC package, which contains ambitious targets that place the country firmly at the forefront of climate leadership.

By 2035, China pledges to reduce economy-wide net greenhouse gas emissions by 7-10 percent from its peak levels; increase the share of non-fossil fuels in total energy consumption to over 30 percent; expand the installed capacity of wind and solar power to over six times the 2020 levels, striving to bring the total to 3,600 gigawatts; scale up the total forest stock volume to over 24 billion cubic meters; make new energy vehicles the mainstream in the sales of new vehicles; expand the National Carbon Emissions Trading Market to cover major high-emission sectors; and essentially establish a climate adaptive society.

These commitments build directly on the climate targets first announced in 2020: to peak carbon dioxide emissions before 2030 and to achieve carbon neutrality before 2060. Rather than backtracking, the 2025 update provides detailed interim milestones. It represents continuity combined with escalation.

PROOF OF PROGRESS

China's pledges are not mere aspirations. Over the past five years, the country has made significant progress, lending credibility to its new goals. The national carbon-trading market, launched in 2021, reached a record trading volume of 189 million tonnes by August 2025, with a total transaction value of 18.1 billion yuan, or roughly 2.54 billion U.S. dollars. A government report highlighted that the market helped reduce the carbon intensity of the power sector by more than 10 percent between 2018 and 2024, proving that carefully designed market mechanisms can drive real change.

Meanwhile, afforestation has advanced at a remarkable pace. From 2012 to 2024, China's afforestation area was equivalent to over twice the size of Germany. This massive restoration effort does more than lock away carbon. It also improves soil quality, strengthens water conservation, and enhances biodiversity. These efforts have been matched by cleaner air across Chinese cities.

By 2024, 222 Chinese cities met national air quality standards, the average PM2.5 concentration fell to 29.3 mg per cubic meter, and the proportion of days with "good" air quality reached 87 percent. These improvements demonstrate that the green transition is not only about numbers and targets but also about tangible improvements in the daily lives of hundreds of millions of people.

SOUTH-SOUTH CLIMATE COOPERATION

China's commitment extends beyond its own borders. Since 2016, it has mobilized more than 177 billion yuan to assist developing countries in clean energy production, adaptation, and climate resilience. Beijing has signed climate cooperation agreements with 42 nations, leading to 54 joint projects.

In Africa alone, China has implemented hundreds of renewable energy projects. The Garissa solar power plant in Kenya now supplies electricity to 70,000 households and offsets approximately 43,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually. The De Aar wind farm in South Africa and hydropower facilities in Rwanda further demonstrate China's commitment to developing green infrastructure abroad.

Beyond construction, China has also provided training, technical expertise, and satellite data to strengthen resilience. After the volcanic eruption in Tonga in 2022, China's HISEA-1 satellite provided remote sensing data to aid emergency management, demonstrating solidarity in times of crisis.

VISION GROUNDED IN ACTION

Critics may point to China's continued reliance on coal or the sheer scale of its emissions. Yet it is precisely because of this scale that China's commitments matter most. When the world's largest emitter sets ambitious goals and begins to achieve them, the trajectory of the entire planet shifts.

Moreover, China's strategy shows that climate ambition can coexist with development needs. Through investments in renewable energy, electrified transport, market mechanisms, and afforestation, China is reducing emissions while simultaneously generating growth, jobs, and technological innovation.

Xi's remarks at the United Nations were more than a policy statement. They were a reminder that climate change is humanity's common cause. By setting ambitious goals, grounding them in fairness, and inviting global cooperation, China has demonstrated that leadership is not measured by empty rhetoric but by vision paired with resolve.

Editor's note: Fred Teng is president of the America China Public Affairs Institute (AmericaChina). He is a Fellow of the Foreign Policy Association, an advisor to the George H. W. Bush Foundation for U.S.-China Relations, and a Centennial Society member of the Economic Club of New York. He also serves as senior advisor to the China-United States Exchange Foundation, executive council member of the Center for China and Globalization, and is a visiting professor at the School of International Studies, Sichuan University.

The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Xinhua News Agency.