At the 25th EU-China Summit in Beijing on July 24, 2025, the European Union and China issued a joint press statement on climate, reaffirming their mutual commitments to global climate governance.
Both economic powers will be tightening their 2035 climate plans before the November UN climate summit in Belem to ensure the ambitions of the Paris Agreement are largely maintained. They emphasized the importance of policy continuity and stability, especially in turbulent international circumstances.
Hopeful first step
Europe has long been a leader on the international climate stage, but significant breakthroughs have typically been achieved through cooperation between the US and China. In the meantime, China accounts for a third of all greenhouse gas emissions. That’s why Beijing must want to ramp up its climate ambitions. This joint statement is a hopeful first step.
China is the world’s largest polluter, yet it is also the largest champion of the green transition. Five years ago, President Xi Jinping pledged that China would achieve carbon neutrality by 2060, with emissions expected to peak around 2030.
That ambition now looks more achievable than ever. In just a few years, China has far surpassed other major powers and become the undisputed leader in renewable energy worldwide.
Electricity demand
Every year, more solar parks are being built in China. Solar energy capacity grew by as much as 45.5 percent in one year, according to figures from the International Renewable Energy Agency. Wind energy capacity also increased by 18% in 2024 compared to the previous year.
China’s wave of investment in renewable energy is no coincidence either: electricity demand continues to rise due to ongoing urbanization and the energy-intensive operation of data centers. Public transportation in cities is primarily electric, and an increasing number of Chinese are opting for electric cars.
The Chinese (e)-automotive industry is booming and particularly competitive for established brands. Last year, a whopping 12.88 million electric vehicles were produced in China, and 12.86 million were sold. In the US, only 1.1 million plug-in vehicles were made, and in the European Union, 2.4 million.
Tension
The impact of China’s green push extends far beyond its borders. According to a report by the Scottish research firm Wood Mackenzie, Chinese exports of renewable energy products increased by 35% between 2019 and 2023.
But China’s growing influence in the green technology sector is fueling tensions with other major powers. Both the EU and the US accuse Beijing of unfair competition and flooding the global market with cheap, state-subsidized products. In response, Brussels and Washington have imposed import duties on various Chinese green products.
During Thursday’s summit, both major powers pledged to “step up efforts to combat climate change”. However, no commitments were made on trade, which they disagree on.
