Chinese President Xi Jinping urges global unity for just climate transition as he addressed the Leaders Meeting on Climate and the Just Transition through a video message on Wednesday.
Marking a decade since the Paris Agreement and 80 years of the United Nations, Xi noted that the world is facing rapid, transformative changes, placing humanity at a critical juncture.
He criticized certain major powers for pursuing unilateralism and protectionism, which undermine global norms and institutions. Despite such challenges, Xi affirmed that global progress, though uneven, will persist.
He emphasized that with shared confidence, solidarity, and cooperation, the international community can overcome obstacles and advance climate action and global progress.
Xi laid out four key points to guide climate efforts.
- First, he called for a strong commitment to multilateralism, urging nations to protect the UN-based international system and uphold fairness, justice, and the rule of law in addressing climate challenges. Countries, he said, must honor their commitments, focus on green development, and collaborate through multilateral institutions to effectively tackle the climate crisis.
- Second, Xi urged deeper international cooperation. He advocated for inclusivity and openness, fostering innovation and green industrial growth, and ensuring equitable access to eco-friendly technologies, particularly for developing nations. China, he noted, will continue enhancing South-South cooperation and offer as much support to fellow developing nations as possible.
- Third, he stressed the importance of a just transition. The shift toward green economies should be people-focused, balancing environmental protection, economic growth, employment, and poverty reduction. Xi emphasized the responsibility of developed countries to aid developing nations in achieving low-carbon development and promoting global sustainability.
- Fourth, he underscored the need for action-oriented results. Nations should fully implement their climate commitments while harmonizing economic progress and energy transformation. He added that China would unveil its updated climate targets for 2035—covering all economic sectors and greenhouse gases—before the UN Climate Conference in Brazil.
Xi highlighted that harmony between humans and nature underpins China’s path to modernization. He reiterated China’s major role in global green growth.
Since announcing its carbon neutrality goals, China has developed the world’s largest renewable energy system and leads in afforestation and new energy industries.
Xi assured that China will not retreat from its climate commitments, international cooperation, or efforts to build a shared global future.
He concluded by reaffirming China’s readiness to uphold the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and work jointly with all nations toward a sustainable planet.
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