FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | April 24, 2025
350.org Asia reacts to China’s affirmation of climate commitments at high-stakes UN meeting
In a pivotal announcement yesterday at the Leaders Meeting on Climate and the Just Transition ahead of the COP30 UN Climate Conference, Chinese President Xi Jinping reaffirmed China’s commitment to climate action. President Xi pledged to deliver ambitious new climate plans–formally known as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)–which would cover all economic sectors and all greenhouse gases, a move described by UN Secretary-General António Guterres as “extremely important” for climate action.
Chuck Baclagon, 350.org Asia Regional Campaigner, says:
“In the wake of the United States’ withdrawal from the Paris Agreement—a move that left a gaping hole in global climate leadership—China’s bold stance signals a strategic shift in power: one where Asian nations are stepping forward to lead the way. China’s forthcoming updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), expected before COP30 in Belem, Brazil, may offer game-changing momentum, setting the stage for interventions that increase the capacity of countries to thrive, not just survive, in a warming world.
For climate-vulnerable countries across Asia, this could mark the beginning of a long-overdue shift: one where climate action is seen not as a burden, but as a development pathway. But the promise lies not in top-down declarations alone. China must ensure that its energy transition is rooted in strong community ownership. Without it, no plan—no matter how ambitious—will be durable or just.
As the world eyes COP30, the onus is on China to live up to its pronouncements. China’s renewed commitment must translate into measurable, transformative action to accelerate decarbonization across energy, transport and industry. It must stop the construction of new coal-fired power plants, which undermines China’s clean energy progress. At the same time, other major historical and high per capita emitters must be held to account by ensuring predictable climate finance flows, honoring commitments to climate-vulnerable countries, and delivering deep emissions cuts in line with the urgency of the crisis. In this collective effort, leadership is not about who speaks first, but who acts at the scale and speed the moment demands.”
Media contact:
Ilang-Ilang Quijano,
Asia Communications Manager
ilang.quijano@350.org
+639175810934