China sets first absolute target to cut climate emissions by 2035

China has announced its first-ever absolute target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, pledging a 7-10% cut across its economy by 2035 while "striving to do better."

According to a report by BBC, President Xi Jinping made the declaration in a video message to a UN meeting in New York, marking a significant shift in Beijing's climate strategy as the world's largest emitter of planet-warming gases.

The announcement comes amid contrasting signals from other major powers, with US President Donald Trump dismissing climate change as a "con job" earlier this week while rolling back Washington's climate commitments.

Despite the milestone, climate campaigners argued that China's pledge falls short of global expectations. 

"Even for those with tempered expectations, what's presented today still falls short," said Yao Zhe, global policy adviser at Greenpeace East Asia.

This week's UN gathering carries particular urgency as countries approach the deadline to submit updated climate plans under the Paris Agreement. Originally due in February, the commitments—covering emissions cuts through 2035—are now expected by the end of September.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres underscored the stakes, warning that the pledges are critical to limit the global temperature rise to 1.5C. "We absolutely need countries to come [...] with climate action plans that are fully aligned with 1.5 degrees, that cover the whole of their economies and the whole of their greenhouse gas emissions," he said.

"It is essential that we have a drastic reduction of emissions in the next few years if you want to keep the 1.5 degrees Celsius limit alive," Guterres added.

China's role is pivotal in this effort. President Xi first announced in 2021 that the country would peak emissions within this decade and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060. The latest pledge, however, marks the first time Beijing has committed to cutting emissions from peak levels across all greenhouse gases, not only carbon dioxide.

"These targets represent China's best efforts based on the requirements of the Paris agreement," Xi said, adding that the measures would also include expanding solar and wind energy capacity to more than six times 2020 levels, boosting forest stocks beyond 24 billion cubic metres, and ensuring "new energy vehicles" dominate the automobile market.

Analysts say even modest cuts would be consequential given China's scale. The country was responsible for nearly 14 billion tonnes of emissions in 2023—more than a quarter of the global total. A 10% reduction would equal 1.4 billion tonnes annually, almost four times the UK's yearly emissions.

Yet experts insist far steeper cuts are needed. "Anything less than 30% is definitely not aligned with 1.5 degrees," said Lauri Myllyvirta, lead analyst at the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, who added that scenarios consistent with global climate goals would require China to halve emissions by 2035.

Earlier this week, the Stockholm Environment Institute warned that governments worldwide are on track to produce more than double the fossil fuels compatible with the 1.5C pathway by 2030.

Still, some observers highlight China's record of outperforming its commitments. For instance, it had promised 1,200 gigawatts of wind and solar power by 2030 but reached the milestone in 2024—six years ahead of schedule.

"The targets should be seen as a floor rather than a ceiling," said Li Shuo, director of China Climate Hub at the Asia Society Policy Institute. "China's rapid clean tech growth […] could propel the country much further over the coming decade."

"China's 2035 target simply isn't representative of the pace of the energy transition in the country," agreed Bernice Lee, distinguished fellow at Chatham House. 

"There's a case to be made that Beijing missed a trick in landing a more ambitious goal as it would have won broad global praise - a stark contrast to the US," she added.

Even as renewable investments surge, Beijing remains heavily dependent on coal. Last year saw record coal-fired power generation, though initial data from 2025 suggests emissions are levelling off due to strong solar growth.

"There is also mounting evidence that the country's emissions are plateauing, with this year's levels expected to be lower than in 2024," said Li Shuo, noting that today's pledge signals "the beginning of decarbonisation after decades of rapid emissions growth."