China, the world’s biggest carbon emitter, has unveiled a new climate target. At the United Nations’ high-level climate summit in New York on September 24, President Xi Jinping announced that the country will aim to cut emissions by 7-10% by 2035. He also pledged to boost wind and solar power sixfold compared with 2020 levels, expand the use of zero-emission vehicles, and work toward creating what he called a “climate-adaptive society.”
China currently accounts for more than 31% of global carbon dioxide emissions, a figure that has continued to rise in recent years.
The announcement comes as more than 100 world leaders push for stronger action to curb heat-trapping gases, with UN Secretary-General António Guterres convening a special session to spotlight concrete measures on coal, oil, and natural gas. The pledge sets the stage for COP30, the UN’s next major climate conference, which will take place in Belém, Brazil, from November 10 to 21, 2025.
According to the World Health Organization, pollution poses a serious health risk around the world. From heavy air smog hanging over cities to poor air quality inside homes, people in densely populated areas are constantly exposed to dangerous air pollution. The statistics are scary. More than 99% of the global population is exposed to dangerous levels of air pollution. This exposure is not just unpleasant but also increases the chances of developing a number of serious illnesses.
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