23 April 2025
By Laura Quinones
At a high-stakes virtual summit on Wednesday, UN Secretary-General António Guterres and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva brought together 17 national leaders from major economies and climate-vulnerable countries. The goal was to accelerate global climate ambition ahead of COP30, which will be hosted in Brazil.
The meeting was part of a joint mobilisation strategy by the two leaders to strengthen global action under the Paris Agreement and build momentum for stronger national climate plans to be announced in 2025.
The two-hour session held behind closed doors included China, the European Union, the African Union, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, and small island developing States.
Mr. Guterres described it as one of the most diverse meetings of national leaders focused exclusively on climate for some time, carrying a powerful unifying message.
“As we heard today, the world is moving forward. Full-speed ahead. No group or government can stop the clean energy revolution”, he declared at a press briefing afterwards.
New national commitments
He said many leaders pledged to deliver ambitious new climate plans, formally known as National Determined Contributions (NDCs), as soon as possible in what he called a “strong message of hope”.
Guterres announced that President Xi Jinping confirmed during the meeting that China’s updated NDCs would cover all economic sectors and all greenhouse gases — a clarification he described as “extremely important” for climate action.
He added that these pledges provide a vital opportunity to chart a bold path for the next decade and most importantly, help speed up a just transition away from fossil fuels to renewables.
‘Economic opportunity of the century’
Renewable energy production is “the economic opportunity of the century,” he said, describing it as the “pathway out of climate hell.”
“The clean energy sector is booming – creating jobs and boosting competitiveness and growth worldwide…Science is on our side and economics have shifted.”
The UN chief noted that prices for renewables have fallen dramatically, offering “the surest route to energy sovereignty and security, ending dependence on volatile and expensive fossil fuel imports.”
Since the 2015 Paris Agreement, global projections for warming have declined, from over 4°C this century to 2.6°C if current plans are implemented.
But that still falls short of limiting temperature rise to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels – the goal agreed in Paris by nations and endorsed by climate scientists.
The Secretary-General urged leaders to submit national plans that align with that target, cover all greenhouse gases and sectors, and signal a full commitment to achieving net zero emissions by 2050.
Strategic mobilisation
According to a senior UN official who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss background prior to the meeting, Wednesday’s summit was “just another step” in the important effort to sustain political momentum during a pivotal year for combating climate change.
The group of invitees, the official said, was “small but representative,” including major economies, regional powers, former COP hosts, and climate-vulnerable nations.
“This is a really important year,” the official said, pointing to the 10th anniversary of the Paris Agreement and the upcoming deadline for countries to submit new climate plans.
“This meeting is about reminding leaders that climate remains a key priority – that collaboration and multilateralism still matter.”
A senior Brazilian official who also took part in the background briefing said the UN climate summit in Belém will move beyond negotiations to focus on implementation, transparency, and delivery. “We have already negotiated enough…now the world wants to see action – results, examples, solutions.”
The official also stressed that demonstrating tangible outcomes is essential for restoring trust in multilateralism.
“We want to prove that multilateralism is not only about negotiating documents,” they said, “but about making them real.”
Call for justice and finance
Mr. Guterres underscored the need to direct far more support to developing countries, which face the most severe impacts of climate change despite contributing the least to global emissions.
“Africa and other parts of the developing world are experiencing faster warming – and the Pacific islands are seeing faster sea-level rise – even while the global average itself is accelerating,” he said.
He called on countries to deliver a credible roadmap to mobilise $1.3 trillion per year for developing nations by 2035, double adaptation finance to $40 billion this year, and increase contributions to the new Loss and Damage Fund created at COP28.
No let up on climate action
The Secretary-General also announced a high-level UN event in September – just weeks ahead of COP30 – to assess progress on climate plans and finance.
The message was clear, according to Mr. Guterres. “We cannot, must not, and will not let up on climate action.”
Source – United Nations
Xi Jinping: Taking on the Challenges of Our Times Together and Jointly Advancing Global Climate Governance
Updated: April 23, 2025 22:52
Remarks by H.E. Xi Jinping
President of the People’s Republic of China
At the Leaders Meeting on Climate and the Just Transition
April 23, 2025
Your Excellency Secretary General António Guterres,
Your Excellency President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva,
Colleagues,
It is a great pleasure to join you virtually at the Leaders Meeting on Climate and the Just Transition.
This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Paris Agreement. Over the past decade, global climate governance has gone through winds and rains, but green and low-carbon development has eventually become a trend of our times. This year also marks the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations. As unprecedented global changes unfold at a faster pace, humanity has come to a new crossroads. Although some major country’s persistent pursuit of unilateralism and protectionism has seriously impacted international rules and the international order, history will, as always, move forward through twists and turns. As long as we enhance confidence, solidarity and cooperation, we will overcome the headwinds and steadily move forward global climate governance and all progressive endeavors of the world. Let me share four points with you in this regard.
First, we must adhere to multilateralism. The more volatile and turbulent the international situation becomes, the greater the need for us to firmly safeguard the U.N.-centered international system and the international order underpinned by international law, and firmly safeguard international fairness and justice. The U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change and its Paris Agreement are the legal cornerstone of international climate cooperation. It is important for all countries to champion the rule of law, honor commitments, prioritize green and low-carbon development, and jointly respond to the climate crisis through multilateral governance.
Second, we must deepen international cooperation. Solidarity and cooperation are needed more than ever as the world faces multiple, compounded challenges. We should rise above estrangement and conflict with openness and inclusiveness, boost technological innovation and industrial transformation through cooperation, and facilitate the free flow of quality green technologies and products, so that they can be accessible, affordable and beneficial for all countries, especially the developing ones. As a member of the Global South, China will vigorously deepen South-South cooperation and continue to provide help for fellow developing countries to the best of its capability.
Third, we must accelerate the just transition. Clear waters and green mountains are just as valuable as gold and silver. Green transformation is not only the essential way to address climate change, but also a new engine for economic and social development. Such transformation must be people-centered and pursued in a way that advances the well-being of people and climate governance in tandem, and strike a balance between multiple goals including environmental protection, economic growth, job creation, and poverty alleviation. Developed countries are obliged to extend assistance and support to developing countries, help drive the global shift toward green and low-carbon development, and contribute to the common and long-term well-being of people of all countries.
Fourth, we must strengthen results-oriented actions. Instead of talking the talk, we must walk the walk. We must turn our goals into tangible results through systematic policies and concrete measures. All parties should do their utmost to formulate and implement their program of action for nationally determined contributions (NDCs) while coordinating economic development and energy transition. China will announce its 2035 NDCs covering all economic sectors and all greenhouse gases before the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Belém.
Colleagues,
Harmony between man and nature is a defining feature of Chinese modernization. China is a steadfast actor and major contributor in promoting global green development. Since I announced China’s goals for carbon peaking and carbon neutrality five years ago, we have built the world’s largest and fastest-growing renewable energy system as well as the largest and most complete new energy industrial chain. China also leads the world in the speed and scale of “greening,” contributing a quarter of the world’s newly-added area of afforestation.
However the world may change, China will not slow down its climate actions, will not reduce its support for international cooperation, and will not cease its efforts to build a community with a shared future for mankind. With the future of humanity and the well-being of our people in mind, let’s earnestly honor the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities, do our utmost respectively and collectively, and build a clean, beautiful, and sustainable world together.
Thank you.
Source – Foreign Affairs Ministry of China