LocationsRemarks by Ms Beate Trankmann at the 2025 Tsinghua Global Climate Communication Forum
September 20, 2025
UNDP Resident Representative in China, Beate Trankmann, delivered a speech titled "China’s Role in Advancing Global Climate Cooperation" via video message, for the 2025 Tsinghua Global Climate Communication Forum in Beijing, China.
杨斌教授 (Prof. Yang Bin),
陈德亮教授 (Prof. Chen Deliang),
王志高博士 (Mr. WANG Zhigao),
周庆安教授 (Prof. ZHOU Qingan),
Ladies and Gentlemen, Good morning!
On behalf of the United Nations Development Programme, it is a pleasure to join the 2025 Tsinghua Global Climate Communication Forum in Beijing.
I regret not being able to join you today, but I am grateful for the opportunity to share these remarks with you via video message.
As we gather here today, the impacts of climate change are becoming increasingly visible around the world – both in terms of the human and financial toll.
Currently, the world is losing an estimated $320 billion every year to natural disasters — eating up nearly 15% of the estimated 1.9 trillion dollar climate investment [1].
Here in China, the top ten natural disasters of 2024 collectively resulted in direct economic losses of nearly $30 billion [2].
In this context, global cooperation is more important than ever – no country can address the challenge of climate change alone.
In just a few days, world leaders will meet in New York for the UN Secretary General’s Special High-Level Event on Climate Action, and then again at the COP30 Climate Summit in November. The focus will be on putting ambitious commitments into action to keep a 1.5°C pathway alive and accelerating progress towards a just, resilient, and low-carbon future.
Given its size and scale, China has an inevitable impact on global climate efforts and will therefore play a critical role in these upcoming discussions and collective actions. Indeed, China has already made significant efforts which have helped to demonstrate that large economies can set ambitious climate goals while still pursuing economic growth.
The Dual Carbon Goals – to peak carbon emissions before 2030 and reach carbon neutrality before 2060 – are a powerful signal that has driven tangible transformations, which have seen China become a global leader in green sectors and clean energy.
In the first half of this year, low-carbon sources supplied 40% of China’s electricity generation — up from 36% in the same period of 2024 [3]. Additionally, clean power sources now cover all of China’s new growth in electricity demand.
"As China crafts the next generation of its national climate plans, the so-called NDCs, strengthened ambitions – supported by practical implementation pathways – not just help to slow the rise in emissions, but can also unlock domestic opportunities for innovation, jobs and resilience."
Moving forward, building on this progress and addressing climate change at the speed and scale needed will require further expanding upon these efforts. Continuing policy reforms, rapid clean-technology deployment and advances in grid integration can further accelerate the energy shifts already underway, while ensuring a just and inclusive transition, particularly in the most affected fossil fuel-reliant regions.
In addition, as China crafts the next generation of its national climate plans, the so-called NDCs, strengthened ambitions – supported by practical implementation pathways – not just help to slow the rise in emissions, but can also unlock domestic opportunities for innovation, jobs and resilience.
This would also set a powerful example globally, injecting much needed momentum into resolute international climate action amid a challenging and evolving international context.
And lastly, climate action cannot succeed without the finance necessary to drive it forward. Indeed, finance is at the very heart of global climate cooperation. This is exemplified by the global target to mobilize public and private finance to reach 1.3 trillion dollars in annual climate finance by 2035 agreed to at COP29 last year.
Achieving this target is vital to realizing more ambitious climate mitigation and adaptation plans. Between 2016 and 2024, China provided a crucial 24 billion dollars in climate-related funds for developing countries [4]. By continuing to scale these contributions through broad financing partnerships and working to advance the global climate agenda, China has an opportunity to mirror the leading role it established during the COP15 Biodiversity Conference, with its creation of the Kunming Biodiversity Fund.
At UNDP, we are supporting governments in over 80 countries through the development of Integrated National Financing Frameworks (INFFs), which aim to reform policies, strengthen institutions, and convene investors to advance climate financing at scale.
We are also advancing instruments such as debt-for-development swaps, and work with grant and loan providers to structure blended finance that de-risks sustainable investments in line with countries’ plans.
Here in China, UNDP is exploring new partnerships with national and international development banks, as well as the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA), to leverage grants and platforms that unlock public and private finance for climate action aligned with the broader Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
With less than five years remaining now until the 2030 deadline for the SDGs, and climate action stagnating around the world, the time for half-measures has long since passed. Now is the time for bold and decisive actions that can turn ambition into implementation.
Looking ahead to the COP30 climate summit and beyond, China’s leadership can help push forward global progress and inspire collective confidence at this critical juncture.
UNDP is ready to support partners here and across the region with policy advice, financing solutions and implementation support, to ensure that climate action and human development advance hand-in-hand.
With that, let me express my warm thanks to Tsinghua’s School of Journalism and Communication, the Center for Climate Communication and Risk Governance, and Energy Foundation China, for convening this forum and giving me the opportunity to be a part of today’s important discussions.
The only viable path towards a low-carbon future is the one which is travelled together. Through collective efforts and shared resolve, we can still put the climate agenda back on track and build a greener, brighter, and more inclusive world for all.
Thank you.
[2] https://www.mem.gov.cn/xw/yjglbgzdt/202502/t20250212_516042.shtml
[4] Full Text: Address by Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang at World Leaders Climate Action Summit
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