China’s updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) for 2035 outlines a clear pathway for reducing emissions, marking a shift from targets tied to economic growth to an absolute national emissions limit. The country has committed to cutting total emissions by 7-10 per cent from their peak, a significant step given China’s economic size and global influence. These commitments are not only critical for domestic climate action but also have substantial implications for global climate trends.
NDCs serve as a country’s climate action blueprint, specifying how much emissions will be reduced and how nations plan to address climate impacts. Stronger, well-implemented NDCs enhance accountability, guide investment, foster technological cooperation, and inform long-term development planning. China’s updated commitments signal increased ambition and provide clearer guidance for aligning policies and investments with climate goals.
The UN in China supports national policy development to ensure these commitments are actionable and integrated with sustainable development objectives. Agencies such as UNEP and UNDP advise the China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development (CCICED), providing expertise and policy recommendations on climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution, and waste. Programmes like the Partnership for Action on Green Economy (PAGE) and projects led by UNIDO and the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) assist provinces and industries in developing green policies, promoting energy transition, and reducing emissions in hard-to-abate sectors.
China also plays a key role in South-South cooperation, sharing knowledge, renewable energy technologies, and training initiatives with developing countries across Asia, Africa, and Latin America. The China-UN Global South-South Development Facility (2025–2030) is a major initiative supporting green and resilient development, sustainable industrialisation, and the economic empowerment of youth and women, thereby promoting inclusive climate action globally.
Financing is crucial to turn commitments into tangible outcomes. Partnerships between national development banks, international financial institutions, and the China International Development Cooperation Agency help scale climate-aligned investments. In 2024, 12 UN agencies facilitated approximately $50.8 million in South-South Cooperation funding, supporting projects in 23 countries and across several regional initiatives. These resources strengthen capacity for climate action, biodiversity protection, food security, public health, education, and youth empowerment.
Through coordinated efforts in policy development, localisation, South-South cooperation, and finance mobilisation, the UN in China is helping translate the country’s updated NDC into actionable climate initiatives. These efforts aim to accelerate climate action, support sustainable development, and deliver tangible benefits for people and the planet, both within China and across the Global South.
