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When China announced to the United Nations in September that the world’s most pollutant economy intends to become carbon neutral by 2060, President Xi Jinping’s target was greeted with both praise and skepticism. Because China accounts for roughly 30% of the world’s total carbon dioxide emissions, the country would have to confront a total transformation of its economy to achieve its goal.
Since then, China has increased its target—thus moving the goalposts for its own transition. President Xi said during a Dec. 12 speech at the virtual Climate Ambition Summit held on the fifth anniversary of the signing of the Paris Agreement that China’s goal to reducing carbon dioxide emissions will now be 5% higher than the previous target, now 65% by 2030 from 2005 levels. Alongside this accelerated goal, China will increase its share of non-fossil fuels in primary energy consumption to 25% and grow its installed capacity for wind and solar generation to 1,200 gigawatts.