The COP-30 is happening at a time when the West has refused to contribute in line with the principles of equity and historical responsibility. They prefer discussions over actions, turning the COP into a debate among countries over who can use the most impressive words. The West’s attitude and inaction are turning the climate crisis into an existential threat to humanity.
In this context, China, as a responsible global power, has taken on the role of fighting climate change and helping the world find sustainable solutions. The most notable feature of Chinese policy and approach is that it follows through on its commitments. China does not make exaggerated claims but instead takes tangible actions aligned with President Xi’s philosophy.
China, guided by the vision of Ecological Civilisation, has launched numerous initiatives and programs across various sectors, including energy, land management, reforming production and consumption, and strengthening and moderating governance. For example, in 2023, China invested US$980 billion (roughly the size of Switzerland’s or Turkey’s GDP) in clean energy production, consumption, electric vehicles, and related sectors. This added nearly US$1.6 trillion to the economy, making it a primary driver of growth.
The investment in renewable energy decreased slightly in 2024 to US$940 billion. However, this decline was caused by government interventions aimed at stabilising prices and reducing market risk, which are crucial for the sector’s long-term growth and sustainability. As a result, experts believe that investment will rebound either this year or next. Early signs of increased investment in 2025 are already meeting experts’ expectations. In the first half of 2025, China added 212 GW of solar and 51 GW of wind energy. This expansion contributed to a 1% reduction in GHG emissions. It bodes well for the world, as the case for sacrificing growth to support renewable energy is likely to weaken.
China, as a responsible global power, has taken on the role of fighting climate change and helping the world find sustainable solutions.
China has completed the installation of a 3.5 GW solar farm in Xinjiang with an investment of $2.3 billion. It will produce 6.09 billion kWh annually, enough to power 3 million homes. It will also cut GHG emissions by 6.07 million tons of carbon each year. Additionally, China has launched another large solar project on the Tibetan Plateau. Covering about 610 square kilometres – roughly the size of Chicago – this clearly demonstrates the Chinese government’s commitment to further renewable energy investment.
However, China is not stopping here; instead, it is speeding up the deployment of renewable energy plants to increase renewable energy production. The IEA predicted that China would lead the world in installing 56% of the global renewable energy capacity during 2023-28. The total installed capacity is expected to reach 2,060 gigawatts (GW), with the rest of the world adding 1,574 GW.
At the same time, China, which is highly vulnerable to climate change, is also focused on adaptation. The IFPRI study shows climate change will impact the production of three major grain crops in China: corn, wheat, and rice. According to the study, corn yields could decrease by one-fifth, followed by a 4% decline in wheat and 1.5% in rice by 2030. Therefore, China has started investing in developing new crop varieties, modern techniques, and technologies to reduce the effects of climate change and ensure the availability of high-quality food. China also prioritises investing in water-saving irrigation, climate-resilient seeds, precision farming technologies, and early-warning systems for extreme weather under the 14th Five-Year Plan.
Additionally, water is another area highly vulnerable to climate change, posing a serious challenge for China due to its uneven regional distribution. The uneven spread of population and arable land will make the situation even more complex.
The statistics show that per capita water availability is 757 cm³ in the Northern region and 3,208 cm³ in the Southern region. The limited water supply in the Northern area poses serious challenges for China, which makes up 42% of the population and 60% of the arable land. As a result, water becomes a key focus in adaptation policies.
To prioritise actions and streamline efforts, China released a comprehensive “National Climate Change Adaptation Strategy 2035” in 2022. Under this plan, China aims to strengthen organisation and implementation, enhance financial and fiscal support, improve technological assistance, build capacity, and deepen international cooperation.
On the other hand, China continues to be dedicated to its international responsibilities. It supports developing countries and the Global South in fighting climate change by offering financial aid, transferring technology, and building capacity. According to the report “China’s Actions on South-South Cooperation in Addressing Climate Change,” published by the Belt and Road Initiative International Green Development Coalition, 2024, China has mobilised 177 billion RMB for developing countries. Additionally, China has signed 53 MoUs with 42 developing nations to assist their efforts against climate change. It has completed 100 projects that benefit approximately 10,000 people.
China has also established the South-South Climate Cooperation Fund and allocated US$3.1 billion for projects, including the 10-100-1000 initiatives (10 pilot low-carbon industrial parks, 100 climate mitigation and adaptation projects, and 1,000 climate-related capacity-building activities). Additionally, China launched the Kunming Biodiversity Fund in 2021 with US$207 million in funding under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Climate change and environmental issues are also among the Six-100 Development Programs’ focus areas.
The Global Development Initiative is another important effort by China, focusing on climate change and green development.
Furthermore, President Xi Jinping emphasised the importance of green development and China’s commitment to it during the 3rd BRI Forum. Initially, China plans to promote investments in green infrastructure, clean energy, and climate-friendly projects, while decreasing funding for coal-fired power plants. Next, China aims to strengthen partner countries’ capacity and enhance cooperation. To achieve this, China intends to train 100,000 personnel from partner nations by 2030. Additionally, China will continue hosting the BRI Green Innovation Conference to gather ideas and wisdom to steer the initiative in the right direction.
Third, China has already launched numerous initiatives under the BRI, including the Belt and Road Initiative International Green Development Coalition (BRIGC), Green Development Coalition, Silk Road Environment Program, Green Silk Road Envoy Program, Big Data Platform, Belt and Road Environmental Technology Exchange and Transfer Centre, as well as the Green Lightning and Green Cooling Initiatives. Lastly, China aims to strengthen the role of the BRI International Green Development Collation. (The writer is CEO of AIERD and Visiting Fellow, Hebei University, China)
The writer is COO Zalmi Foundation