China is committed to the energy transition needed to avert climate breakdown but does not want to take the lead alone, particularly in the absence of the United States, a senior adviser has warned. Wang Yi, vice-chair of China's expert panel on climate change, said Beijing would provide more money to vulnerable countries but stressed the need for comprehensive leadership from multiple nations.
In an exclusive interview, Wang explained that China's priority at the Cop30 summit in Belém is to help the Brazilian presidency achieve a successful conference and demonstrate the benefits of multilateral decision-making. He noted that President Xi Jinping is committed to the long-term energy transition despite resistance from some industrial sectors, and that China is in the midst of a 'comprehensive green transition of social economic development'.
China is the world's largest emitter of carbon dioxide from fossil fuels but also a global leader in wind turbines, solar panels and electric cars. Wang said the country wants to 'speed up and scale up its efforts to provide more global public goods' despite geopolitical tensions and trade barriers, including tariffs. He estimated per capita power consumption would rise from 7,000 kilowatt hours in 2024 to over 10,000, but with a steady shift away from fossil fuels.
Wang acknowledged resistance to change within China but said the central government has sent a clear signal to accelerate the new power system. He cautioned that a unified pathway for phasing down fossil fuels is difficult, as different countries have different conditions and strategies. He also expressed concern that US President Donald Trump's second term would have a bigger impact than his first, and that the European Union is distracted by the war in Ukraine and economic problems.
On climate finance, Wang said China would increase contributions but did not specify amounts. He criticised double standards from some countries that want China to reduce emissions faster while also worrying about its competitive capacity and imposing trade barriers that slow the spread of green technology. Despite the gap between current plans and what is needed to limit warming to 1.5C, Wang said China does not want to discuss new targets at this Cop summit.
