Introduction
Climate change is one of the most pressing issues in the world. It is a very complex global problem, affecting the environment and human life, due to the increasing damage to the ecosystem, the ever-rising pollution, and the influence on the availability of basic needs, such as food and water. Many countries and organisations have been working towards a more sustainable future in order to stop the rising temperature and environmental changes.
In the past few years, China has implemented several new policies to mitigate the consequences of global changes, and to support sustainability. In the most recent United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at the end of September 2025, the country’s President announced its plans for a more sustainable future and for eliminating pollution, making it a new leader in the fight against global climate change.
History of Climate Change and China’s Response to the Increasing Climate Crisis
The current state of climate change is rooted deeply in history. According to experts, it has been present since the beginning of the world. In the past, extreme climate change was viewed as punishment of humankind by divine intervention, but scientific evidence has discovered the complexity and the precise causes behind it. Nowadays it is undoubted that climate change is severely impacted by the human population, especially since the eighteenth century when the two Industrial Revolutions shaped technological development. The rapid industrialisation and the increasing amount of pollution have severely changed the Earth’s temperature, leading to the discovery of the so-called “greenhouse effect”.
The dangerous impact of climate change has since become a point of concern for the masses. Climate change has a serious effect on rising temperatures, which, among others, impact the continued rising of sea-levels and floodings, as well as it leading to water evaporation and drought globally. It is proven that climate and extreme weather changes affect biodiversity and they greatly influence the ecosystem in many ways.
Global warming is not only a danger to the environment, but also to human health. The constant increase of temperature and extreme heat exposure have dangerous effects on health both physically and mentally. This can lead to increased risks for heart problems or kidney diseases, moreover increased temperature can cause extreme anxiety or depression, and it can contribute to suicidal episodes. Heat can also cause rashes on the skin, scalp, or it can even affect the muscles, not to mention the increasing amount of sunburns in the summer and in warmer areas, which can also negatively affect the skin and can cause different types of skin conditions.
Besides health, climate change also highly impacts other basic human rights, such as the right to access water and food, the right to life, and the right to freedom of movement, but it also seriously impacts vulnerable groups, such as children, women, the elderly and people with disabilities. Climate change is connected to every aspect of our lives, and it causes serious, most of the time, irreversible damages in the world. Climate change can cause harm to us directly, in the forms of natural disasters or lack of natural resources which endanger the survival and basic nutrition of people, or it can cause harm indirectly, such as causing wars for natural resources, land or food, which in itself leads to serious human rights concerns through violence and security threats.
Impacts of Climate Change in China
As with every other country in the world, China has also been negatively affected by the impacts of climate change. Due to the vast size of the country, temperatures are different in the northern regions of China as opposed to the southern regions, and therefore, the focus and possible solutions heavily vary for these areas. Air pollution and bad air quality is a great problem in urban areas in China, as it not only affects the health of individuals, but it also relates to extreme weather and temperature changes. Additionally, China’s already limited water resources have suffered a decline, due to the global warming-related melting of glaciers which has caused harmful water pollution in certain areas. These are all affecting human life, especially causing grave health risks, therefore it is important for countries to implement policies that align with a sustainable approach that tackles the impacts of climate change.
International Standard on Climate Change
More and more countries and international organisations have been turning their focus towards sustainability and climate protection in recent decades. Many international treaties, agreements, and regulations have been made and published in order to guide States towards a more “green” future. The first international recognition of climate change was the 1972 United Nations (UN) Scientific Conference (or as it is often called: “The First Earth Conference”) which focused on the preservation of the environment, and it was the first time an international Declaration addressed governments on the possible effects of climate change.
However, the real first international impact took place at the 1987 UN General Assembly (UNGA) when the “Environmental Perspective of the Year 2000 and Beyond” was adopted. This was not a binding agreement, but it outlined the basic characteristics of environmental awareness and it served as a guidance for States to implement their own policies on climate change.
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) was another important step in the international recognition of the dangers of climate change. The UNFCCC was adopted in 1992, with the purpose of recognising the dangers of climate change with the then-available scientific evidence, and setting clear goals to support developing countries, primarily financially, but also in other ways. Furthermore, the UNFCCC also served as a monitoring guidance for countries as it requires the submissions of regular reports and annual reports to show the progress of each State Party.
The real development in the history of the fight against climate change came in 1997, when the UN adopted the Kyoto Protocol to the UNFCCC, which became a legally binding international treaty. The Kyoto Protocol aimed to reduce greenhouse emissions by focusing on industrialised sectors of the signatory countries.
China’s Recognition of These Regulations
Although China signed the Kyoto Protocol in 1998, it only ratified it in 2002, in accordance with the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China of 1990 and the Macao Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China. In their ratification statement to the UN Secretary-General, they assured the country’s further compliance with the UNFCCC as well.
Additionally, China has been a signatory party to the Paris Agreement since 2016, which is a legally binding international treaty that was adopted by the UN at the 2015 Climate Change Conference. The Agreement focuses on reducing global temperature and greenhouse emissions, monitoring the signatory countries’ progress towards achieving these goals, and allocating financial support to developing countries to aid them reach their goals on sustainability, and advance their fight against global warming and climate change.
In July 2025, the European Council published a joint statement between the European Union (EU) and China, specifically focusing on the guidelines of the Paris Agreement. They emphasised the importance of the Paris Agreement and the UNFCCC, and strengthened the EU-China cooperation on climate change. The statement emphasised that their agreement is focusing on a “result-oriented approach” meaning they will focus on strengthening the existing policies and their enforcement. The new agreement also included the focus on renewable energy, and enabling new “greener” technologies. This agreement is not just important as a statement to fight against global climate change, but also in showcasing both parties’ commitment to working towards the goals set out in the Paris Agreement.
China’s Internal Climate Policies
In recent years, China’s internal politics were focused on climate change. In 2020, China set a goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2060, and announced new plans and policies to make it possible. In 2021, China published several new policies and goals that specifically align with the Paris Agreement and showcased the country’s commitment to achieve these sustainable goals. Additionally, the National Strategy for Climate Change Adaptation 2035 serves as a guideline, highlighting the main goals and targets for the country, based on the different sectors such as water resources, food and agriculture, healthcare, and social system.
In 2023, China emphasised its focus on methane emission control in the China Methane Emission Control Action Plan, which contributes to the national strategy in stepping up against climate change. The Plan serves as a support to the
[…] Outline of the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) for National Economic and Social Development and the Long-Range Objectives Through the Year 2035” and to the “Opinions of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council on Completely, Accurately, and Comprehensively Implementing the New Development Concept and Successfully Undertaking Carbon Peaking and Carbon Neutrality,
and it works in order to coordinate and enforce these policies on preventing air pollution and to strengthen methane emission control.
The 2025 UNGA: China Becomes The New Climate Leader
At the beginning of 2025, the United States (US) administration announced that they will not be moving forward with the goals and guidelines of the Paris Agreement anymore. Following this, the journal The Conversation reported at the end of April that China has the potential of becoming the new world leader in the fight against climate change, as President Xi Jinping has been sharing the country’s plans of action of “global climate governance” before the UN and the UN Secretary General.
In May 2025, it was reported that Xie Wenhong, Head of the Climate Bond Initiative of China stated that the country is interested in becoming a new world leader in the fight against climate change, and that the country’s involvement and efforts in the “green finance model” have been proven successful in providing necessary resources for Southeast Asian countries especially. The article also mentioned that China is currently the “largest provider in renewable energy” and the country’s two-decade-long goals make it a great candidate to become a sustainable leader.
At the most recent UNGA at the end of September 2025, Chinese President Xi Jinping announced that China’s goal is to reach a seven to ten percent decrease in greenhouse gas emissions and will increase the use of non-fossil fuels within the next ten years. The Chinese President added that they are aiming towards even higher numbers than what they initially announced, and China is currently investing in more sustainable approaches within its domestic markets.
However, many argue the targets President Xi presented were below the expected, and a 7-10 percent reduction will not be sufficient enough to make impactful change. While these targets are arguably low, it shows China’s commitment to sustainability, and presents the long-lasting goals of the country. Therefore, China’s new potential as climate leader is undoubtedly important, being the leading world power to provide a clear outline of its economic and sustainable targets, and providing support to other countries in order to meet their own climate change “ambitions”.
Conclusion
Following the recent UNGA Conference, China is facing a potential world leadership position, due to the country’s commitment to environmental change in the past years. Although the presented targets faced criticism, China’s alignment with the international legal standards on climate change and their long-term vision contributes to strengthening their role in global climate governance and a more “green” future.
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