China Pledges to Cut Emissions 7–10% by 2035, Marking First Absolute Reduction Target
China announces its first absolute emissions reduction target of 7–10% by 2035 at the 2025 UN Climate Summit, pledging major renewable expansion and carbon neutrality by 2060. While historic, the target is seen as modest against 1.5°C climate goals.
China Sets First Absolute Emissions Cut Target Ahead of COP30
New York, September 24, 2025 — At the United Nations Climate Summit, Chinese President Xi Jinping announced that China will reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 7–10% from peak levels by 2035, marking the country’s first economy-wide absolute emissions cut target. The move represents a significant shift from previous commitments, which were focused largely on emissions intensity and peak timing.
In a video address, Xi outlined plans for a sixfold expansion of wind and solar capacity compared to 2020, accelerated adoption of zero-emission vehicles, and the creation of a “climate-resilient society.” These steps are intended to advance China’s broader goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2060.
Strategic Significance
As the world’s largest carbon emitter — responsible for about one-third of global emissions — China’s new target moves beyond relative benchmarks and introduces an absolute emissions cap, a necessary step to align with the Paris Agreement. The announcement comes ahead of COP30 in Brazil this November, where all nations are expected to submit updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
While widely welcomed as progress, some climate analysts criticized the target as insufficient. To remain consistent with the 1.5°C pathway, studies suggest China would need to cut emissions by at least 30% by 2035, with some calling for reductions of more than 50%.
Current Trends and Renewable Surge
Official data indicate that China’s emissions may already have peaked or are close to doing so. From March 2024 to March 2025, power sector emissions fell 2%, supported by record additions in wind and solar and a 3% drop in coal consumption in early 2025. However, coal use in chemical industries and synthetic fuels continues to edge upward, and local governments approved a surge of new coal power plants in 2024, reflecting lingering reliance on fossil fuels.
Global Response
The European Union described China’s pledge as “falling well short” of the ambition required to meet global goals, urging stronger action and faster implementation. UN Secretary-General António Guterres reiterated calls for all countries to deliver 1.5°C-aligned NDCs covering all greenhouse gases, not just CO₂.
What Lies Ahead
China’s transition from intensity targets to absolute reductions is expected to reshape domestic policy. Analysts anticipate tighter emissions trading schemes, stricter limits on fossil fuel expansion, and expanded clean energy mandates to meet the 2035 goal.
Balancing economic growth with a low-carbon transition remains a challenge. Yet, even if the 7–10% cut is seen as modest, China’s credible slowdown in emissions growth and rapid renewable buildout mark a turning point that could pave the way for deeper cuts in the coming decades.
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