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illuminem summarises for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on CNN or enjoy below:
🗞️ Driving the news: China has announced a commitment to cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 7–10% from peak levels by 2035, a goal delivered by President Xi Jinping during a UN General Assembly climate session
• While symbolically significant due to China’s global emissions leadership, the target is far below the 30% reduction sought by the United States and climate advocates
🔭 The context: China previously pledged to peak emissions around 2030, but independent assessments suggest that peak may have already occurred—possibly as early as 2025
• The U.S.–China climate partnership, which had yielded substantial cooperation during the Obama and Biden administrations, has eroded under the current U.S. administration, which has withdrawn from the Paris Agreement and dismissed climate change as a priority
• In contrast, China is presenting itself as a steady actor in global climate leadership.
🌍 Why it matters for the planet: As the world’s largest emitter and the leader in renewable energy development, China’s actions will decisively influence global climate trajectories
• Although the announced target lacks ambition, China’s extraordinary scale in deploying clean energy—especially solar and wind—may enable it to exceed its stated goals
• However, without greater international alignment or domestic policy shifts, the pace of decarbonisation may remain inadequate for 1.5°C alignment
⏭️ What's next: Attention now turns to COP30 in Brazil this November, where China is expected to play a prominent role in the absence of strong U.S. engagement
• Domestically, China aims to grow its wind and solar capacity to 3,600 GW by 2035—six times its 2020 levels
• Progress will depend on policy enforcement, continued renewable investment, and the gradual phasing out of coal dependency
💬 One quote: “Green and low carbon transition is the trend of our time, while some country is acting against it, the international community should stay focused on the right direction,” – President Xi Jinping
📈 One stat: China is building 510 GW of new large-scale solar and wind power—more than triple the total renewable capacity currently operating in the United States
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