André Aranha Corrêa do Lago, who led this year’s UN climate summit for Brazil, speaks at a press conference in Belém, Brazil, on Nov. 10, 2025. (AP/Yonhap)
Recent remarks from André Aranha Corrêa do Lago, the president of this year’s UN climate conference held in Brazil, highlight a shifting global perspective on climate leadership. He stated that China is playing a pivotal role in combatting the global climate crisis, a statement laden with significance given the current geopolitical climate.
This assertion takes on renewed importance, particularly in light of the Trump administration’s withdrawal from the Paris Agreement and the subsequent lack of a U.S. delegation at COP30 (the 30th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change). As global attention sharpens on China’s escalating responsibilities in “climate governance,” the implications of Corrêa do Lago’s comments become increasingly pronounced.
“Somehow the reduction in enthusiasm of the global north is showing that the global south is moving,” he remarked, emphasizing a narrative that suggests developing nations are taking proactive steps amid a perceived stagnation from more affluent countries. According to his observations, this transition has been gradual over the years but is now gaining the international recognition it deserves.
Corrêa do Lago elaborated on China’s dual identity as both the largest greenhouse gas emitter and a front-runner in low-carbon energy production. “China is coming up with solutions that are for everyone, not just China,” he asserted, noting the competitive nature of Chinese innovations in renewable energy technology, particularly solar panels, which are becoming increasingly cost-effective compared to fossil fuels.
Supporting this narrative, a recent analysis from Ember, a UK-based global climate and energy think tank, highlights transformative trends in China’s clean energy sector. In August alone, electric vehicles constituted over 52% of new car sales in the country. Furthermore, during the first half of the year, China installed more solar panels than the rest of the world combined, accounting for an astonishing 67% of the global total—an improvement from 54% in the previous year.
China’s leadership in clean technology isn’t confined to domestic advancements. The country has emerged as a leader in clean tech exports, with $120 billion in clean technology exports in the first eight months of the year, eclipsing the U.S. fossil fuel exports totaling $80 billion in the same period. Notable gains have been observed in exports of electric vehicles (up 26%), batteries (up 23%), electrical grid technology (up 22%), and wind energy equipment (up 16%).
Euan Graham, an analyst at Ember, remarked on the surging demand for clean technologies worldwide: “Demand for clean technologies continues to skyrocket as more and more countries seek their benefits, from low-cost power to cheaper vehicles.” This highlights a shift wherein China’s advancements in energy technology are becoming pivotal for the development of a new energy paradigm, particularly in emerging economies.
As these developments unfold, it becomes evident that global leadership in climate action is not just about who emits the most greenhouse gases. It is increasingly about innovation, capacity for change, and the potential benefit that such technologies provide to nations worldwide. Whether or not other countries will follow in China’s footsteps remains to be seen, but the momentum in the global south is unmistakably growing.
By Kim Kyu-nam, staff reporter
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