China and the EU vow to boost joint climate efforts

Thursday 24 July 2025 - 12:45

During the 25th China-EU summit held in Beijing on July 24, 2025, China and the European Union reaffirmed their commitment to intensify collaboration in the fight against climate change. A joint statement released during the high-level meeting underlined both parties' determination to step up actions "at all levels and on a large scale."

Climate change has long been an area of common interest between Beijing and Brussels, despite ongoing tensions over geopolitical issues such as the war in Ukraine and trade imbalances. While the EU aims to reach carbon neutrality by 2050, China—currently the world's largest emitter—has pledged to achieve this goal before 2060.

The joint declaration outlines plans to enhance bilateral cooperation in areas including energy transition, methane emission reduction, carbon markets, climate adaptation, and the development of low-carbon and green technologies.

Both sides also emphasized the importance of accelerating the global deployment of renewable energy and improving access to green technologies. China, a major producer of solar panels and electric vehicles, plays a key role in this sector.

According to David Waskow of the World Resources Institute (WRI), this declaration "sends a powerful signal that climate cooperation can transcend geopolitical rivalries." He added that greater action from the world’s two top emitters is essential, especially after the United States scaled back its role in global climate agreements.

However, experts like Yao Zhe from Greenpeace argue that rhetoric must now translate into real action. Earlier this month, a senior EU official told the Financial Times that Brussels would not endorse a joint climate pledge unless China committed to more ambitious emission cuts.

In response, the Chinese state-run China Daily accused the EU of politicizing the issue by leveraging climate talks to influence Beijing’s stance on the Ukraine conflict. China continues to maintain a neutral official position while preserving close economic and strategic ties with Moscow.