Liu Zhenmin: Insufficient global climate governance cooperation but promising prospects. China is confident in leading the acceleration of energy transition.

Source: Boao Forum for Asia

On the afternoon of March 25, the Boao Forum for Asia 2026 Annual Conference held the sub-forum “Challenges and Prospects of Global Climate Governance.” Liu Zhenmin, China’s Special Envoy on Climate Change, pointed out that over the past 36 years, the international community has effectively addressed climate change through cooperation, especially since the adoption of the Paris Agreement, but current cooperation remains insufficient.

Liu Zhenmin stated that the biggest challenge in the global response to climate change is the announcement by the Trump administration of the United States to withdraw from the Paris Agreement in 2025. As the largest developed country and the initiator of climate change negotiations, the U.S. withdrawal has severely impacted the integrity of multilateral cooperation, leading to a loss of confidence in the international community. Meanwhile, there are divisions within developed countries, resulting in a lack of overall action and a setback in global confidence, making it difficult for developed nations to fulfill their financial aid commitments to developing countries.

Despite the numerous challenges, Liu Zhenmin expressed confidence in the prospects. He pointed out that from the 1992 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to the 2015 Paris Agreement, the path for global climate change response has been widely recognized. The 2023 Dubai Conference further initiated a “just, fair, and orderly” global energy transition process, specifically replacing fossil energy with non-fossil energy. This direction has become a consensus, with the key being how to accelerate progress.

China is not only the largest emitter but also the largest leader in new energy. Liu Zhenmin noted that during the 14th Five-Year Plan period, China will strive to ensure that all new electricity demand is met by renewable energy, reduce carbon emission intensity by 17%, and gradually establish a new energy system, essentially forming a green production and lifestyle. By 2030, China’s installed capacity of non-fossil energy is expected to reach about 70%, and by 2035, sales of new energy vehicles will become mainstream. “China is indeed the leader in the world’s energy transition today, and we are confident in achieving our goals,” Liu Zhenmin said.

(Editor: Wenjing)

Keywords:

                                                            Climate