摘要：Lead: As the West stalls on climate action, China's pragmatic approach centered on cooperation, fairness and measurable progress o
By Yasiru Ranaraja
Lead: As the West stalls on climate action, China's pragmatic approach centered on cooperation, fairness and measurable progress offers a new model for global climate governance.
After decades of scientific consensus, political commitment and international conferences, inadequate action on climate change has made the problem more urgent than ever. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), through six comprehensive assessment reports compiled by thousands of the world's leading scientists and scholars, has repeatedly warned that human activity is the main driver of global warming. Yet, even as the crisis intensifies, the political will to act is weakening worldwide.
Amid differences in areas such as climate justice and historical responsibilities, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement were ratified as milestones to reverse escalating emission levels. However, recent political developments point to an alarming setback.
The United States, historically one of the world's largest emitters, withdrew from the Paris Agreement under President Donald Trump's first administration, rejoined under President Biden, but has now withdrawn again under Trump's second term. Similar skeptical voices toward climate commitments are emerging in some European countries. This has raised questions about which nations will step forward to guide global action on the escalating climate crisis.
Against this backdrop, Chinese President Xi Jinping's recent climate pronouncements have shown exceptional importance. President Xi's speech at the Leaders Meeting on Climate and the Just Transition on April 23, 2025 reaffirmed China's commitment to multilateral collaboration, an equitable transition to renewable energy, and a pragmatic, results-oriented approach to addressing the problem.
President Xi's articulation of four key points — multilateralism, international cooperation, just energy transition, and practical action — offers a clear roadmap for global climate governance at a time of growing uncertainty. Unlike previous frameworks that often saw wealthy nations dictating terms, China's approach reflects an understanding of the principle of "Common but Differentiated Responsibilities" (CBDR), long advocated by the Global South nations. CBDR recognizes that while climate change is a global problem, historical responsibilities and capacities to act vary.
China backs its climate promises with concrete action, focusing its policies on reaching peak carbon emissions and achieving carbon neutrality. China is methodically accelerating its transition to clean energy through initiatives like the National Carbon Emission Trading System (ETS) and investments in clean energy. According to government plans, China aims to peak carbon emissions by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060. Beijing has also pledged to submit its upgraded Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to the 2025 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) in Belém, Brazil, covering all sectors and all greenhouse gases.
For developing countries like Sri Lanka, China's commitment provides a critical example and an opportunity for cooperation. As a tropical island state in the Indian Ocean, Sri Lanka is particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. The island nation faces desertification, altered monsoon patterns and sea level rise. China's support has already materialized in the form of clean energy projects in Sri Lanka's Northern province and water security infrastructure assistance through the Mahaweli Development Project. These are not only infrastructure activities but also capacity development, knowledge transfer, and policy environment initiatives founded on resilience and sustainability.
An aerial drone photo taken on Oct. 26, 2024 shows the scenery at Colombo Port City, Sri Lanka. [Colombo Port City/Handout via Xinhua]
Sri Lanka and similar nations must focus on practical results while ensuring the responsibility of climate action is fairly shared among countries, following the CBDR principle.
Globally, China is reshaping the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) to support environmental goals. Under the "Green Belt and Road" strategy, Chinese companies are increasing investments in renewable energy across Asia, Africa and Latin America. From solar farms in Pakistan to hydroelectric projects in Africa, China's approach is helping developing nations advance their clean energy transitions.
In a historic move, President Xi announced at the 2021 United Nations General Assembly that China would halt the development of new coal-fired power projects abroad. This shift marked a dramatic reversal in China's overseas energy investments, particularly under the BRI. This policy not only highlights China's commitment to global climate goals but also encourages other nations to reconsider their overseas energy investments.
Although China's historical greenhouse gas emissions are far lower than those of countries listed in Annex 1 of the Kyoto Protocol, China has become a leader in clean energy innovation investment. According to the International Energy Agency, China accounts for one-third of worldwide renewable energy investment and leads in solar photovoltaic production, electric vehicles and battery storage technology.
This change in leadership comes at a time when the developed world's credibility on climate action is increasingly questioned. Most Annex I countries failed to meet their Kyoto Protocol commitments, and financing pledges under the Paris Agreement, such as the $100 billion annual climate finance commitment to developing nations, remain unfulfilled. Furthermore, rising protectionism in some Western nations risks undermining the multilateralism that global climate governance requires.
The reality is that climate change knows no borders. Wildfires in North America, floods in Europe, desertification in Africa and sea level rise in Asia have repeatedly demonstrated this.
Therefore, the future of global climate governance depends on whether countries can move beyond narrow political interests to embrace collective action. The four principles outlined by President Xi (multilateralism, international cooperation, a just transition, and results-oriented actions) reflect a pragmatic vision to meet this challenge.
Such principles would encourage nations to unite behind a shared vision, while the transparency provisions and NDCs in the Paris Agreement would motivate member parties to contribute to climate actions in ways that reflect their global responsibilities.
At the upcoming COP30, expectations are high that Global South countries will be more assertive in shaping outcomes, with support from countries like China that understand development realities on the ground. Meanwhile, the Paris Agreement's transparency mechanisms will encourage member parties to strengthen their commitments, gaining recognition as responsible global actors.
Yasiru Ranaraja is a commentator on current affairs, researcher on maritime issues and expert on Belt and Road Initiative development. He is the founding director of BRISL, an international development organization in Sri Lanka.
来源：中国网一点号