In a landmark announcement made at the United Nations–Brazil co-hosted virtual summit on climate and just energy transition, Chinese President Xi Jinping declared that China’s climate targets for 2035 will apply to the entire economy and include all greenhouse gases. This is the first time Xi has personally confirmed the comprehensive scope of China’s upcoming climate goals, marking a significant step forward in the nation’s climate strategy.
A Shift Toward Full-Spectrum Climate Commitments
For years, Chinese policymakers have hinted at more expansive climate goals, but until now, no official confirmation had been made on whether non-CO₂ greenhouse gases would be included in China’s carbon neutrality roadmap. Xi’s public statement changes that, signaling a broader and more ambitious climate commitment from the world’s largest greenhouse gas emitter.
China had previously pledged to peak carbon emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060, but questions lingered about the extent and depth of those targets. The new 2035 commitments—expected to be published before the UN Climate Change Conference (COP30) in Belém, Brazil this November—appear poised to fill in those gaps.
Towards a Sectoral Transformation
President Xi’s announcement opens the door to the inclusion of detailed sector-specific emission reduction targets. This development aligns with growing calls for greater transparency and accountability in China’s climate strategy, especially as the global community edges closer to critical climate tipping points.
To support this vision, the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) released a detailed scorecard outlining what a strong Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) could look like for China. Their findings suggest that if current clean energy trends are sustained, China could reduce CO₂ emissions by at least 30% by 2035 relative to 2023.
Benchmarks by Sector
- CO₂ Emissions: A 30% reduction from 2023 levels by 2035, driven by an absolute national cap.
- Non-CO₂ Emissions: At least a 35% cut, accounting for one-sixth of China’s total GHG emissions.
- Electricity: A 30% sectoral cut with renewables reaching 5,000GW and non-fossil energy surpassing 40% of total energy consumption.
- Industry: Emissions to fall by 25%, with steel and cement reductions leading the way—45% and 20% cuts respectively.
- Transport: Return emissions to 2020 levels by pushing electric vehicle sales to 60% of all vehicle sales and boosting rail freight to 25%.
- Buildings: Cut emissions by 40%, retrofit 25% of buildings, and ensure 40% adoption of renewable heating.
- Natural Sinks: Boost afforestation and reforestation land cover by 15% compared to 2025.
China’s Role in Global Climate Governance
In his address, Xi emphasized that China’s commitment to climate action would not waver despite international volatility. “No matter how the international situation changes, China’s active actions to respond to climate change will not slow down,” Xi declared. He also reaffirmed China’s support for multilateralism, highlighting the importance of the United Nations and international law in guiding climate efforts.
Xi positioned China as a “firm campaigner and important contributor” to global green development. He pointed out that since announcing China’s carbon goals five years ago, the country has built the world’s largest renewable energy system and contributed a quarter of the planet’s new green areas.
Global Expectations and Responsibilities
As the world anticipates the COP30 summit, expectations are high that China will set an example for major emitters by aligning its climate policy with the goals of the Paris Agreement. Xi reiterated the importance of supporting developing countries through South-South cooperation and called on developed nations to fulfill their financial obligations to ensure a just and inclusive transition.
Xi concluded his speech with a call for unity and sustained progress: “As long as we have firm confidence and strengthen solidarity and cooperation, we will certainly be able to combat countercurrents and secure steady and sustained progress in global climate governance.