**Xi Jinping Presents China’s First Concrete Carbon Reduction Goals at UN Climate Meeting; Trump Absent, Criticizes ‘Green Scam’ in Assembly Speech**
(Beijing, Yonhap News) Reporter Seo Hye-rim – As the high-level session of the UN General Assembly, often called the ‘super week’ of world summit diplomacy, unfolds, US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping have taken opposing stances on addressing the global climate crisis.
While President Trump dismissed climate change as a “big scam,” President Xi highlighted China’s proactive stance on reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
As the US steps back from climate change efforts, analyses suggest that China is stepping in with “green leadership” to fill the void.
On the 24th (local time), in a video address at the UN Climate Summit held in New York, President Xi stated that China aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 7-10% below their peak levels across its entire economy by 2035, and will strive to achieve its targets.
He also outlined plans for carbon reduction, including increasing China’s wind and solar power installations, forest accumulation (total tree volume), and expanding the share of new energy vehicles (electric/hydrogen/hybrid cars) in the automotive market.
This marks the first time China has presented specific numerical targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
In contrast, President Trump did not attend the climate summit, highlighting a stark difference.
The New York Times reported that while many major countries like China, Russia, Japan, and Germany, as well as numerous island and least-developed countries, attended the meeting, the US was absent.
Instead, in his UN General Assembly speech the previous day, President Trump claimed that climate change responses and carbon reduction policies are “the greatest scam perpetrated on the world,” warning world leaders that failure to disengage from this “green scam” will lead their countries to fail.
With President Trump stepping back, it appears President Xi is actively seeking to take the lead in climate change efforts.
This move also underscores the idea that China, rather than an isolationist US prioritizing “America First,” could serve as a reliable partner and take on a leading role.
President Xi’s introduction of concrete figures for carbon reduction for the first time is seen as an indication of China’s intention to lead global climate change efforts, destabilized by the US withdrawal.
Additionally, his emphasis on the international community’s need to stay focused on the right direction, despite some countries regressing on energy transition, is seen as a jab at the US.
President Trump has repeatedly claimed that scientists’ warnings on climate change are false.
He declared the US’s withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement during his first term, and after being re-installed in the White House earlier this year, sought to exit the accord again reversed by his successor, former President Joe Biden.
Some critics argue that President Trump’s actions are diplomatically isolating the US.
The NYT assessed that with numerous countries pledging intensified efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions at this climate summit, the US was essentially an outsider with its absence.
Visiting the US for the UN General Assembly, Frans Timmermans, EU Commissioner for Climate Action, Net Zero, and Clean Growth, criticized the US, describing it as the second-largest greenhouse gas emitter, failing in its responsibility.
There is also analysis suggesting that despite the US’s “withdrawal,” global carbon reduction policies have not been significantly shaken.
The NYT noted, “Earlier this year, many world leaders were concerned that the Trump administration’s strong opposition to renewable energy might reverse the global direction towards ‘energy transition.’ However, they have recently declared their intention to continue with the energy transition, with or without the US.”
Commissioner Timmermans also evaluated that there are no signs of President Trump’s actions impacting other countries’ climate goals.