China has reaffirmed its commitment to tackling the climate crisis, with President Xi Jinping stating that the country will not scale back its climate initiatives. During a virtual high-level meeting convened by UN Secretary-General António Guterres, Xi made veiled criticisms of protectionist trade policies — widely interpreted as a reference to Donald Trump’s tariff strategy. He emphasised China’s achievements in renewable energy, citing its vast infrastructure and leadership in clean technology industries. Without directly naming the US, Xi condemned unilateralism and underscored the importance of global cooperation in climate governance.
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The meeting brought together leaders including Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, while the US was notably absent. Guterres praised the countries in attendance, declaring that no government or fossil fuel lobby could derail the global shift to clean energy. The UN chief stressed that both science and economics were aligned with the push towards a sustainable future. The absence of US representation added to speculation about its current environmental stance under Trump’s leadership.
China’s participation in the meeting was significant, particularly given Xi’s rare presence. It appears Beijing is positioning itself as a stable global leader on climate, in contrast to Washington’s erratic approach. However, rising trade tensions between the US and China continue to cast a shadow. In response to Washington’s trade war, China has tightened controls on exports of key minerals essential to clean energy technologies, such as electric vehicles and solar infrastructure. The move has raised concerns about the geopolitical impact on global supply chains.
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Meanwhile, a separate summit on energy security, hosted by the UK government and the International Energy Agency, will proceed without China’s involvement. The US will send a lower-level delegation, fuelling further discussion about its commitment to global climate cooperation. Guterres concluded the UN meeting with a call for increased financial support for vulnerable nations, encouraging attendees to solidify plans to cut emissions ahead of the COP30 climate summit in Brazil. He also urged fulfilment of the promised £980bn in annual climate finance by 2035, highlighting the urgency of unified global action.
