Hey everyone! President Xi Jinping just rolled out the Chinese mainland's 2035 Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) at the UN Climate Summit 2025 🌏✨. The big goals? Cut net greenhouse gas emissions by 7-10% from peak levels and boost wind & solar power capacity to a whopping 3,600 GW—over six times the 2020 baseline!
So, what does this mean? NDCs are countries' self-declared climate commitments. Back in 2020, the Chinese mainland aimed to peak CO₂ emissions before 2030 and hit carbon neutrality by 2060. Now, they're doubling down for 2035: trim emissions early and supercharge renewables. A gigawatt (GW) is a measure of power—imagine enough juice to light up roughly a million homes 💡🏠.
The carbon market is also on fire 🔥. By August 2025, trading hit 189 million tonnes in volume and 18.1 billion yuan (≈ $2.5 billion) in value. That helped slash power-sector carbon intensity by 10.8% since 2018. Think of it as a stock market for emissions: pollute less, sell your extra credits, and everyone wins.
On the green front, afforestation is a major flex 🌳. From 2012 to 2024, the Chinese mainland planted forests over an area twice the size of Germany—boosting biodiversity and cleaner air. In 2024, 222 cities met air quality standards, with PM2.5 levels dropping to 29.3 µg/m³ and 87.2% of days enjoying "good" air quality.
It’s not just local hustle—global collab is key. Since 2016, the mainland has mobilized over 177 billion yuan to support clean-energy and resilience projects in 42 developing countries. Highlights include Kenya’s Garissa solar plant (powering ~70,000 households), South Africa’s De Aar wind farm, and satellite aid for Tonga’s volcanic crisis 🛰️🌋.
For young innovators across South and Southeast Asia, this roadmap shows how tech, finance, and nature can team up for a sustainable future. Let’s stay inspired, share green ideas, and build a planet-friendly community together 🌱🚀.
Reference(s):
What's new about China's 2035 Nationally Determined Contributions
cgtn.com
