With the US stepping back there are calls for China to assume climate leadership

China is far ahead of other countries in the production and use of renewable energy and in an article in the The Conversation, Professor Yixian Sun of the University of Bath, proposes that China should now seek to fill the climate leadership vacuum the United States is leaving behind. He contends that “with the US in retreat from climate action and Europe preoccupied by security challenges, new leadership is urgently needed. China may be poised to fill this gap.” He further states that China has indicated in the past that it may be interested in assuming this role, “its top leaders say climate action can help the country fulfil its responsibilities as a major power. The Chinese president, Xi Jinping, reiterated this message at a recent closed-door meeting of heads of state, organized by the UN secretary general to discuss the climate crisis,” and also “after nodding to the Trump-initiated global economic shock, Xi said China ‘will overcome the headwinds and steadily move forward global climate governance.’ “

In order to take on the global responsibility, the Professor contends that “Beijing must first strengthen China’s domestic policies along with its support for climate action in the global south,” (or Developing Countries, as they are sometimes called). Suggesting this would create more support for and generate confidence in its leadership. He suggests that for China to make its domestic climate policies seem more credible it should rely less on coal for electricity generation, presumably based on the fact that coal burning is considered to be the foremost carbon dioxide emitter. As stated by Ember Energy, in 2024 coal burning accounted for 58% of China’s electricity generation and as generally known, in China the electricity and heat production sector emits more carbon dioxide than any other sector. Professor Sun also calls on China to increase its national pledged reductions it is making to the United Nations, regarding greenhouse gas emissions. These adjustments, the Professor is indicating, would help to generate confidence in China’s ability to lead the world on the climate issue by enhancing its climate reputation, including in the Global south.

In terms of climate assistance to the global south, the Professor seems content with the view that China is already providing a fair amount of assistance to the region, somewhat fulfilling a requirement of the United Nations climate agreements. China is a signatory to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Paris Agreement, (both discussed elsewhere). These entities require Developed Countries to assist Developing (poorer Countries) mainly with financing, technology and expertise in those countries quest to mitigate and adapt to the changing climate. The reasons behind this requirement by UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement are multiple, but among them are that Developed Countries are more responsible for climate change, because they are the biggest greenhouse gas polluters, due to their huge consumption of fossil fuels and that Developing Countries are poorer and are less likely to be able to afford the financial costs associated with combating climate change . The UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement are of the view that huge disparities among countries with respect to levels of climate mitigation and adaptation would most likely create global disunity and a sense of unfairness which could then affect the smooth global implementation of the Paris Agreement. The underlying thinking, is that we all live on the same planet and reduction in greenhouse gases anywhere, benefits everyone everywhere and therefore the development of disunity and discord would be generally self-defeating.

As stated earlier, the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement require Developed Countries to assist Developing countries in their efforts to fight and adjust to climate change, but according to Professor Sun, even though China is already assisting Developing Countries, its under no obligation to do so because China is listed with both UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement as a Developing Country not as a Developed Country. As the Professor wrote, “China still has developing country status in the UN’s climate change convention and, as such, has no official obligation to provide international climate finance.” The Professor is of the view that if China is to assume leadership of the climate change fight, it first has to make itself officially obligated to assist poorer countries, in order to generate confidence from those countries in the future leadership role it may pursue. Here we believe that if China finally intends to embark on the global leadership of fighting climate change, it would do the right thing and not hesitate to take the necessary steps to win the world’s confidence and support, Including of course, from the Global South. Professor Sun has some motivational words for China, “With global climate leadership at risk, China has the chance to step up. As an emerging superpower with advantages in clean technologies and a leadership that recently reaffirmed their commitment to climate action, the country is well positioned. The world is watching to see if China will follow through.”