Editor's note: Imran Khalid, a special commentator on current affairs for CGTN, is a writer on international affairs. The article reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily the views of CGTN.

As climate disasters grow more frequent and severe – from floods across Asia to wildfires sweeping the Americas – China's latest climate pledge stands out. Announcing China's new targets for 2035 at the United Nations Climate Summit, President Xi Jinping committed to reducing net greenhouse gas emissions by 7-10 percent from peak levels by that year. It's a step beyond China's previous goals of peaking emissions by 2030 and reaching carbon neutrality by 2060.

This new commitment signals Beijing's intent to shape global climate governance in a way that balances ambition with realism. It also reflects a deep philosophical approach rooted in China's traditions. Back in 1988, a group of 75 Nobel laureates meeting in Paris suggested that Confucian ideas – especially the concept of harmony between humanity and nature – could help guide responses to environmental threats. That principle now informs China's climate strategy.

China's approach is to "establish before abolish," meaning building clean energy infrastructure before phasing out fossil fuels. That's evident in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), where China has stopped funding new coal projects and is pushing for greener development. This avoids the trap of short-term growth followed by long-term environmental damage.

China's strategy also aligns with the Paris Agreement, which it helped shape in 2015. That accord aims to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius, ideally 1.5 degrees. Xi's new targets build on that foundation.

By 2035, China plans to raise the share of non-fossil fuels to over 30 percent of its energy mix. Its forest stock will grow to more than 24 billion cubic meters, electric vehicles will dominate new car sales, and the national carbon market will cover high-emission sectors. The broader goal is to build a society that's not just low-carbon but also resilient to climate impacts.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang, speaking at the UN the day before Xi's address, emphasized China's role in developing the world's most complete new energy industrial chain. He pledged continued support for a "clean, beautiful, and sustainable world," which reflects a guiding idea in Chinese policy: "Lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets."

It's a belief that environmental protection and economic growth can go hand in hand. China has tested this domestically and is now promoting it globally through initiatives like the BRI International Green Development Coalition, which helps developing countries pursue sustainable growth.

China's climate leadership is built on several key principles. One is the idea of a "community of life for mankind and nature," which warns that environmental harm ultimately hurts humanity. Another is the long-standing principle of "common but differentiated responsibilities." This means that developed countries, which have historically emitted more greenhouse gases, should bear a greater share of the burden of addressing climate change. China argues that climate action must reflect each country's capacity, not impose uniform demands that ignore inequality.

In practice, China supports multilateral efforts through the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. It has strengthened ties with other developing nations via a climate cooperation fund, trained officials from more than 120 countries, and signed agreements for low-carbon projects. Despite geopolitical tensions, China continues to coordinate with major powers. Its cooperation with the United States was crucial to the adoption of the Paris Agreement, and dialogue between the two countries continues.

China's contributions are substantial. By late 2024, its renewable energy capacity reached 1.88 billion kilowatts. That scale has helped drive down global costs for wind and solar power by more than 60 percent and 80 percent, respectively.

China also operates the world's largest carbon market, which serves as a benchmark for pricing emissions. Its afforestation efforts account for a quarter of the world's new greenery over the past two decades, thanks to programs that convert farmland back into forests. And it played a leading role in the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, the agreement in 2022 to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030.

"Green and low–carbon transition is the trend of our time," Xi told the summit. "While some country is acting against it, the international community should stay focused on the right direction…" It was a pointed reference to American backtracking on climate policy, especially under voices that dismiss climate change altogether. Xi urged countries to stay focused on long-term goals, even when others falter.

China's approach is grounded in values that prioritize action over rhetoric, domestic needs alongside global responsibilities, and cooperation over confrontation. By treating climate change as a national strategy, it integrates environmental policy with broader governance. It also listens to the concerns of other developing nations, advocating for fairness in how climate burdens are shared.

As the world prepares for COP30 in November, China's steady course offers a contrast to the uncertainty seen elsewhere. In a time of ecological crisis, leadership is not about grand statements but about consistent, principled action. China's example shows that progress is possible when ambition is matched by commitment.

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