China’s President Xi Jinping has announced the country’s first-ever absolute greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction goal, committing to reduce economy-wide net emissions by 7%-10% from peak levels by 2035. The announcement was made via video at the UN Climate Summit. 

In addition to the emissions reduction target, China outlined plans to expand its installed wind and solar power capacity to 3,600 gigawatts by 2035, more than six times the levels of 2020, and to increase the share of non-fossil fuels in total energy consumption to over 30%. 

These targets will form China’s new Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement. NDCs are national climate action plans that are submitted and updated every five years. China had previously pledged to peak emissions before 2030 and to achieve climate neutrality by 2060. 

China also set additional climate-related goals for 2035, including scaling up total forest stock volume to over 24 billion cubic meters, making new energy vehicles mainstream in the sales of new vehicles, and expanding the National Carbon Emissions Trading Market to cover major high-emission sectors. 

President Xi stated that these targets represent China’s best efforts under the Paris Agreement and emphasized the country’s resolve and confidence to deliver on its commitments.