As global leaders convene at COP30 in Belém, Brazil, the complex relationship between China – the world’s largest emitter – and the fight against climate change is taking center stage. While facing international pressure to curb emissions, China has together emerged as a dominant force in the production and export of green technologies, accounting for roughly 80% of global solar panel production [[2]]. This duality presents both opportunities and challenges as nations grapple with enterprising climate goals and a shifting geopolitical landscape, particularly with the United States reassessing its commitment to international climate agreements [[4]].
The United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP30, is underway in Belém, Brazil, from November 10th to 21st, as nations discuss new targets for mitigating climate change. While Europe has positioned itself as the most ambitious region in the fight against global warming, China remains the world’s largest emitter of greenhouse gases. However, Beijing has simultaneously become the world’s leading producer and exporter of green energy technologies, creating a complex dynamic at the heart of global climate efforts.
China’s Climate Goals Deemed Unambitious
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China, one of the world’s fastest-growing economies, aims to surpass Western nations in numerous sectors. Despite this ambition, the country finds itself at a crossroads – simultaneously being a major polluter and possessing the potential to become the world’s greenest economy.
China’s economic structure encompasses industries that both produce and utilize environmentally friendly technologies, alongside sectors reliant on significant amounts of polluting energy resources.
For example, China manufactures solar panels that contribute to renewable energy generation, while also producing metal goods with a substantial carbon footprint. These products are used for both export and domestic economic development.
On November 3rd of this year, China unveiled its latest climate goals, committing to a 7–10% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2035. Experts have criticized this target as insufficient, arguing that at least a 30% reduction is needed to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. This assessment highlights the growing pressure on China to increase its climate commitments.
China is simultaneously the world’s largest producer of climate-friendly technologies and a major consumer of polluting energy sources.
The country has developed robust production and utilization of solar panels and wind turbines, and has actively promoted the development of electric vehicles. The Chinese government supports the growth of these environmentally friendly technologies and industries for three primary reasons.
First, the production and installation of green technologies create additional jobs within China, fostering economic development in competitive sectors. The government also provides financial support to companies committed to operating in these areas.
Second, leadership in the production and development of new technologies enhances China’s economic competitiveness in the global market.
China has become a leader in green technology exports – producing approximately 80% of the world’s solar panels, 60% of wind turbines, and 75% of electric vehicles and their batteries.
This not only drives China’s economic growth but also increases its political influence, providing additional leverage on the international stage.
Third, environmentally friendly technologies promote China’s autonomy by reducing its dependence on imported energy resources. The production and use of green technologies contribute to China’s self-sufficiency and energy security. Approximately 40% of the energy generated in China during the first six months of 2025 came from renewable sources.
Despite its leading role in the development of environmentally friendly technologies, China remains one of the world’s largest polluters.
Firstly, polluting industries, such as metal producers, form a significant part of China’s overall export market.
Secondly, the production of green technologies and components utilizes environmentally unfriendly technologies and methods, generating both emissions and physical pollution.
Thirdly, while renewable energy use has increased in China in recent years, half of China’s power plants still operate using coal. Given that the transition to greener energy sources is a costly and lengthy process, China is expected to continue utilizing inexpensive coal to fuel its economic growth, releasing harmful substances into the environment.
Renewable Energy Expansion to Support Climate Goals
Experts from the independent science-based project “Climate Action Tracker” assessed China’s climate plans and action to mitigate climate change as “highly insufficient.” They believe China’s climate policies and commitments are not aligned with the 1.5-degree target set by the Paris Agreement.
At the end of September 2025, Chinese leader Xi Jinping presented the country’s new climate plans. China’s main commitment is to reduce emissions by 7–10%.
If China succeeds in achieving this goal, it will reduce emissions by approximately 1.4 billion tons per year, nearly four times the total emissions of the United Kingdom.
Xi announced that by 2035, China will increase the use of wind and solar energy sixfold compared to 2020 levels. This will help China reduce its fossil fuel consumption by approximately 30%.
To achieve this goal, China is building new offshore wind power stations and accelerating the construction of energy bases in desert areas.
Li Shuo, director of the China Climate Hub at the Asia Society, told Reuters that China’s new climate plans align with its strategy of taking cautious and predictable steps towards achieving its goals.
“Beijing’s pledge represents a cautious step that continues a long-standing political tradition of prioritizing stable, predictable decision-making,” he said.
Li noted that China’s dominant role in the green technology sector and Washington’s retreat from the Paris Agreement targets could encourage China to take a more active role.
In 2024, every other new car sold in China was an electric vehicle. From 2022 to 2024, China doubled its wind and solar power generation capacity, and as of July 2025, three out of four wind and solar energy projects worldwide were located in China.
While China’s new climate plans involve increasing the use of renewable energy sources, Beijing will continue to extract and utilize coal for production.
U.S. Role Diminishes – China Steps into the Vacuum
U.S. President Donald Trump announced in January 2025 the United States’ withdrawal from the Paris Agreement, and subsequently criticized UN climate goals during his September address at the UN General Assembly. Concerns also exist that the U.S. may withdraw from the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.
Trump’s assertive foreign policy is eroding allies’ confidence in Washington’s ability and willingness to address global challenges.
China is rushing to capitalize on the diminishing U.S. influence in the climate arena – already holding a leading position in the production and trade of clean energy technologies, registering three times more patents in this field than the rest of the world combined.
China is the world’s leading exporter of clean energy technologies, and is also implementing various environmentally friendly project constructions abroad. For example, since 2022, China has invested approximately $227 billion USD in the implementation of clean energy projects in 54 countries.
To assume a leadership position in global efforts to mitigate climate change, China is also seeking to establish international standards for combating global warming.
Beijing has increased its involvement in various international organizations, promoting the adoption of Chinese standards through the “Belt and Road” initiative. The implementation and consolidation of China’s green economic rules and norms on international platforms will likely solidify Beijing’s leading position.
