Climate change is a major challenge that all of humanity faces together. No country can tackle the challenges humanity faces alone, and no country can retreat into an isolated island. In 2015, the Paris Agreement, signed by 178 countries worldwide, laid the foundation for global climate governance. Taking on the responsibility of reducing carbon emissions and providing assistance to other developing countries in the fight against climate change is a responsibility for all responsible major countries. However, in recent years, global climate governance has faced serious challenges due to international economic stagnation and geopolitical factors. The Chinese government has responded to the UN’s call by fulfilling its “dual carbon” targets and offering practical solutions for developing countries to address climate change through the green development projects of the Belt and Road Initiative. China has gradually become an important leader in advancing global climate governance.
In 2017, China took the lead in promoting the “Green Belt and Road” initiative, developing strategies to achieve these goals. By June 2024, China had signed over 50 South-South cooperation agreements on climate change with 42 developing countries and provided various forms of aid and support to these nations. The Green Belt and Road initiative has showcased China’s commitment and significant achievements in combating climate change, while also injecting new momentum into increasing clean energy use, improving climate change adaptation, and promoting environmental protection in developing countries.
In 2021, China, with the concept of “teaching how to fish rather than giving fish,” aimed to increase the capacity of developing countries to address climate change through South-South cooperation. The Green Belt and Road initiative has successfully implemented this cooperation model by offering more suitable pathways for the low-carbon transformation of developing countries and creating a new balance in global climate governance. This is also an important step toward achieving a fair global climate governance system.