While former US President Donald Trump called climate action a "scam" and a "con job," China captured the world's attention the very next day by announcing its new climate and clean energy targets. Chinese President Xi Jinping virtually declared that China would cut its carbon emissions by 7-10% over the next decade, with a major focus on the expansion of electric vehicles, wind, and solar energy.

Xi Jinping said in his speech that "clean energy is the trend of our time." Indirectly targeting Trump, he added that "while some countries are doing the opposite, the international community must stay focused in the right direction." This statement came at a time when Trump had said in the UN General Assembly that green energy projects like wind and solar will fail countries and that China itself makes turbines but does not use them.

The reality is a little different. According to reports, in the first five months of this year alone, China installed 46 gigawatts of new wind energy capacity, enough to power more than 30 million homes. In comparison, the Trump administration froze permits for offshore wind projects in the US, significantly slowing America's progress.

China's new targets were announced within the framework of the Paris Agreement. Under the terms of the Agreement, countries are required to submit new and stronger emission-cutting plans every five years. Trump's administration ignored this and withdrew from Paris, while China continued its commitment. Xi acknowledged that meeting the targets would not be easy, but said, "This is the best effort we can make within the requirements of the Paris Agreement."

Experts say these pledges, although positive, are a bit modest. US and global climate scientists were expecting China to cut emissions by at least 30% to keep global temperature rise within 1.5°C. However, China's new targets are only around a 7-10% cut, which appears quite conservative. Georgetown University professor Joanna Lewis explained that China has set a relatively modest target due to political realities and a lack of US pressure, yet it still suggests it is taking climate change seriously.

Environmental groups such as Greenpeace East Asia have also criticized the 2035 target, saying it "does not provide sufficient assurance to keep the planet safe." Nevertheless, there is optimism that China's actual economy and clean energy growth will outperform the paper targets.

While China is aggressively building solar and wind projects, it is also adding coal power plants, given its abundant coal resources and the need to meet the energy demands of its 1.4 billion-strong population. Additionally, China is becoming a global leader in renewable energy technology manufacturing and export, which will be helpful for developing nations in achieving their climate goals.

Overall, China's approach appears conservative, but it is still a major signal that the country wants to play an active role in the climate change fight. While countries like the US are stepping back, China's stance provides a hopeful direction for global climate action.