China, world's largest carbon polluting nation, announces new climate goal to cut emissions

"China, the world's largest carbon polluting nation, has announced a new climate fighting goal to cut emissions by 7% to 10% by 2035. In a video address to the United Nations high-level climate summit on Wednesday, Chinese president Xi Jinping told his fellow leaders that the world's second largest economy, which has long seen its carbon pollution soar, will finally reduce the emissions of the gases that cause global warming and extreme weather."

"It came as more than 100 world leaders gathered to talk of increased urgency and the need for stronger efforts to curb the spewing of heat-trapping gases. With major international climate negotiations in Brazil 6 weeks away, the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres convened a special leaders summit Wednesday during the General Assembly to focus on specific plans to curb emissions from coal, oil and natural gas."

"Europe then followed with a less detailed and not quite official new climate change fighting plan. Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, said their infrastructure and investment in renewable energy and the price of carbon had all increased, and their emissions are down nearly 40% since 1940. Last week, member states agreed that their nationally determined contribution would range between 66% and 72%, and that they would formally submit their plan before the November negotiations, she said."

China announced a target to reduce carbon emissions by 7% to 10% by 2035 and pledged major clean-energy actions. The country will increase wind and solar capacity sixfold from 2020 levels, make pollution-free vehicles mainstream, and build a climate-adaptive society. More than 100 world leaders met to press for urgent measures and the U.N. convened a summit to focus on cutting emissions from coal, oil and natural gas ahead of negotiations in Brazil. The European Commission signaled stronger commitments, noting increased renewable investment, higher carbon prices, nearly 40% emissions decline since 1940, and a planned 66–72% nationally determined contribution.

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