context: At the upcoming COP30 in Belem, Brazil, the PRC will assume a leadership role, spruiking its achievements in massively expanding renewable energy capacity, developing clean tech for export (batteries, solar panels, EVs) and setting targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions across society.
MEE (Ministry of Ecology and Environment) held its regular monthly press conference on 29 October. Xia Yingxian 夏应显 MEE Climate Change Department director-general released the PRC's policies and actions for addressing climate change 2025 annual report, and looked ahead to the upcoming COP30 in Brazil.
The report showcases key work priorities over the past year, particularly major contributions in climate change mitigation, adaptation, carbon market development, carbon footprint management, climate policy and governance, noted Xia.
The PRC released its updated NDCs (nationally determined contributions) for 2035 at the UN Climate Summit in September. The targets were developed in accordance with the requirements of the Paris Agreement, notes the report. Achieving this goal will require concerted effort on the part of the PRC, as well as a favourable and open international environment.
The report outlined the PRC's basic position and proposals for the upcoming COP30
- sending a positive signal to boost confidence in multilateralism
- all parties should work together to ensure COP30 eliminates disruptions and sends a strong message that green low-carbon development is irreversible and multilateralism is unshakeable
- the PRC firmly opposes unilateralism, protectionism and political backsliding
- upholding and implementing the UNFCCC and Paris Agreement
- these two instruments form the foundation of global climate governance and strengthened implementation will be the central theme of COP30
- developed countries need to respond constructively to the difficulties faced by the Global South, as well as the contributions of the PRC and other developing countries
- advancing negotiations on mitigation, adaptation, finance, tech and capacity building
- these five key elements form an integrated whole and should be advanced in balance during negotiations
- developed countries must meet their obligations to provide adequate financial, technological and capacity building support to developed countries
- promoting international cooperation to create a favorable environment for climate action
- promoting a just green transition
- developing countries have called for developed countries to achieve net-zero well before 2050, and to reflect this ambition in their 2035 NDC commitments
- many developing countries believe the US$300 bn goal set at COP29 lacks ambition
- COP30 should make progress in formulating a US$1.3 tn climate finance roadmap
- COP30 should stipulate that developing countries have access to and can afford green tech and products
- developing countries have called for developed countries to achieve net-zero well before 2050, and to reflect this ambition in their 2035 NDC commitments