The 30th Conference of the Parties (COP30) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, currently underway in Belém, capital of Brazil’s Pará state, is emerging as a pivotal moment in global climate governance. The Amazon rainforest, the planet’s most vibrant yet most threatened ecosystem, has become a stage for developing nations in the Global South to chart new paths toward sustainable development.
As the world’s largest developing country, China’s performance in the decade since the Paris Agreement was reached stands in stark contrast to the repeated withdrawals by the United States. China’s “dual carbon” goals—achieving carbon peak by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2060—are profoundly driving the transformation of its energy structure and industrial system.
Global climate governance is at a critical juncture, with different countries choosing different paths. As the world’s largest developing country, China has demonstrated remarkable continuity, stability, and execution in the decade following the Paris Agreement. From the proposal of the “dual carbon” goals to their concrete implementation, China has established a comprehensive policy framework. Currently, China leads the world in installed capacity and investment in renewable energy, providing sustained momentum for building a global green supply chain. As the world’s largest producer of solar panels, wind turbines, and electric vehicles, China has created an ecosystem that closely integrates clean energy innovation with industrial upgrading. In contrast, U.S. climate policies have undergone dynamic adjustments with government changes. Despite possessing leading technological and economic capabilities, the U.S. has adopted a more cautious stance in assuming international climate responsibilities.
China’s climate action is not just a commitment on paper, but a systemic change that goes deep into every aspect of the economy and society.
From central planning to local implementation, China has established supporting systems such as carbon markets, green credit, and energy efficiency standards, actively promoting the transformation of macro goals into concrete actions. This systematic approach ensures that the realization of climate goals is backed by solid institutional safeguards.
In the energy sector, China has achieved a historic transition from traditional fossil fuels to clean energy. By the end of 2024, China’s installed renewable energy capacity exceeded 1.5 billion kilowatts, accounting for nearly 40% of the global total. Among them, both wind power and photovoltaic power generation ranked first in the world.
China’s electric vehicle industry has achieved leapfrog development. In the first three quarters of 2024, China’s new energy vehicle production and sales both exceeded 8 million units, with a market share of over 35%. These achievements not only drive China’s own green transition but also make tangible contributions to the global fight against climate change.
For the vast majority of Global South countries, climate action is not just about reducing emissions, but also about the right to development and equity.
For a long time, the global climate governance is dominated by the developed countries such as the United States. The development demands and special conditions of the developing countries are often ignored, and they are forced to undertake the emission reduction obligations that are not commensurate with their historical responsibilities.
China has provided important insights for developing countries through its own practices: green transition is not just an environmental issue, but also a path choice for a country to move toward modernization. This concept has resonated strongly in Latin American countries such as Brazil, Chile, and Peru.
China continues to lead the improvement of international cooperation on climate change, gradually breaking the old model dominated by developed countries, emphasizing that countries should promote the global construction of a more inclusive and just climate governance system through technology sharing, common development and win-win cooperation.
During the preparation and holding of COP30, China played multiple roles: as an important participant and an active coordinator.
China plays a unique bridging role between developed and developing countries. On one hand, China understands the development demands of developing countries and can accurately convey the voice of the Global South; on the other hand, China possesses the experience and capability to engage in dialogue with developed countries, which can promote mutual understanding between the North and the South.
This bridging role is reflected in concrete actions. China helps all parties form executable plans through a combination of technical cooperation, capacity building, and fund mobilization. At the Belem Conference, the Chinese delegation actively participated in negotiations and dialogues at various levels, making substantial contributions to narrowing differences and expanding consensus.
As we have seen in the past decade, China has become a “stabilizer” that consolidates global consensus on climate governance. When countries are at odds and negotiations are at a standstill, China’s constructive role often creates new space for dialogue.
The Belem Conference provided the world with an important opportunity for all parties to witness how developing countries can take control of their own climate destiny. China’s active response to climate change and promotion of broader global South cooperation demonstrate that the path to a low-carbon future must advocate equality, inclusiveness, and cooperation.
On the stage of COP30, China demonstrated the responsibility of a major country. China has won the trust and respect of the international community with its continuous and stable actions.
Looking to the future, the world needs not more promises, but more actions. China has demonstrated through concrete actions that economic development and environmental protection can complement each other, and green transition and livelihood improvement can reinforce each other. This philosophy and practice are precisely the wisdom most needed in current global climate governance.