China, the world's largest emitter of greenhouse gases, officially submitted its new climate commitments on Thursday, October 28, three days before the opening of COP26, a crucial conference to fight against global warming, the UN announced.
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Beijing commits, in this
revised "
national contribution
" (NDC), to reach its peak of emissions "
before 2030
" and carbon neutrality "
before 2060
", objectives in line with the announcements of President Xi Jinping. These new commitments posted on the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) website also provide for a reduction in carbon intensity (CO2 emissions compared to GDP) by more than 65% compared to 2005.
China's previous NDC pledged to reduce its carbon intensity by between 60 and 65% by 2030 and reach its peak emissions “
around 2030
”.
In its contribution, Beijing recalls that the developed countries must "
assume their historic responsibilities and continue to resolutely take the lead in reducing emissions
".
According to the Paris agreement, signed in 2015 and which shows the ambition to contain global warming well below the + 2 ° C and if possible + 1.5 ° C mark compared to the pre-industrial era, signatory countries must file an upwardly revised NDC every 5 years.
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The new contribution from China, responsible for more than a quarter of global greenhouse gas emissions, was therefore eagerly awaited before COP26, which formally opens on Sunday in Glasgow (Scotland).
Especially since the UN said Monday that the new climate commitments made in recent weeks are still leading the world towards a "
catastrophic
"
warming
of + 2.7 ° C.
