China says updated NDCs will cover all sectors
The Chinese government has scaled up its net zero ambition with an update to be announced ahead of COP 30 in November
China, the world’s largest emitter and simultaneously its largest renewables deployer, will announce updated NDCs ahead of COP 30 in Brazil later this year. In a first, China has also clarified that updated NDCs cover all sectors and all greenhouse gases.
The announcement was made by Chinese President Xi Jinping who virtually addressed a leaders’ meeting on climate and the just transition convened by the UN secretary general on April 23.
Walk the talk
“Instead of talking the talk, we must walk the talk”, said President Xi as he addressed the 17 government leaders gathered for the meeting. The Chinese leader’s message to his audience seemed timely with America’s recent withdrawal from the Paris Agreement setting the context.
“China will announce its 2035 NDCs covering all economic sectors and all greenhouse gases before the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Belém”, he announced.
It was the first time China provided this clarification, which UN secretary general António Guterres noted and welcomed.
President Xi began his address with a vocal defence of the Paris Agreement, despite Washington’s departure, referring to it as “the legal cornerstone of international climate cooperation”.
Secretary general Guterres also stressed on the need to build on the momentum of renewable energy deployment. “No group or government can stop the clean energy revolution. Science is on our side — and economics have shifted”, he affirmed.
China’s NDC
China’s previous NDC update was in October 2021. At the time, China’s targets included peak carbon dioxide emissions before 2030, carbon neutrality by 2060 and an increase in wind and solar energy capacity to over 1200 GW by 2030. It achieved the later six years ahead of schedule.
The Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, a think tank, estimates that updated, more ambitious NDCs could reduce China’s CO2 emissions by at least 30% by 2035.
NDC were previously updated five years ago. This year a fresh round of announcements is expected. As leaders prepare for a trip to Brazil in November, updates such as Beijing’s will be eagerly awaited and closely watched.
