China Unveils Aspiring New Climate Target at UN Summit
NEW YORK – In a stunning development at the United Nations climate summit, china announced a significantly strengthened commitment to reduce carbon emissions, exceeding expectations and injecting fresh momentum into global climate negotiations. The pledge, revealed late Tuesday, september 24, 2025, commits the nation to achieving carbon neutrality by 2045 – five years earlier than its previous goal – and includes a substantial increase in renewable energy investment.
The announcement arrives at a critical juncture as nations grapple with escalating climate impacts and the looming deadline for submitting updated Nationally Steadfast Contributions (NDCs) ahead of the next major climate conference. The success of that conference hinges on ambitious commitments from major emitters, and china’s move places considerable pressure on other countries to follow suit. Experts say the revised target coudl dramatically alter the trajectory of global warming, perhaps keeping the 1.5°C target within reach, though widespread implementation remains a challenge. Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva had earlier appealed to countries to present their new goals promptly, emphasizing the importance of collective action.
China’s new plan details a peak in carbon emissions by 2030, followed by a rapid decline. The country will increase its installed capacity of wind and solar power to over 2,500 gigawatts by 2035, phasing out coal-fired power generation in most regions by 2050. The initiative also includes meaningful investments in carbon capture and storage technologies and a commitment to halt all financing for new coal projects abroad.