Experts: What China wants from the COP31 climate talks

With the COP31 climate summit in Turkey looming, all eyes are on China to the country will push for in the negotiations. At COP30 last year, China helped to secure a “dialogue” on climate-related “unilateral trade measures”, as well as a two-year “work programme” concerning climate finance. The nation also championed south-south cooperation throughout the conference and co-led a summit on methane, alongside Brazil and the UK. In a recent press conference, China’s environment vice-minister Li Gao noted the need to “uphold multilateralism” and send a “clear political signal” that the global community is united around climate action.  Li also pledged to advocate for an “open and efficient” trade system that “facilitates” adoption of clean-energy technologies. On the more traditional topics of mitigation and finance, Li highlighted the need to “address insufficient emission reduction efforts ” for developing countries. Carbon Brief asked six leading experts on China what they believe China wants from COP31 and what signals they will be watching for.  Their responses have been edited for length and clarity. Article Contents Expand menu Close Kate Logan Ma Jun  Yao Zhe  Prof Ryna Cui  Dr Joseph Dellatte  Prof Jeremy Wallace  Kate Logan Director of the China climate hub and climate diplomacy, Asia Society Policy Institute In an era where global climate cooperation is severely challenged, China’s top priority at COP31 will be upholding multilateralism. With most “big ticket” items under the Paris Agreement now complete and constrained expectations for major new breakthroughs at COP31, China may be satisfied with a conference that produces no major drama and little else. Nevertheless, expect China’s vision for multilateralism to have a distinct flavor to it. Chinese officials may again leverage the COP stage to oppose unilateralism and promote an open and fair international trade system, reflecting Beijing’s persistent frustration with tariffs and other measures that have inhibited the global flow of Chinese clean technologies. One question is whether they will do this through existing spaces or push for a dedicated agenda item on trade, given that COP30’s trade outcomes, championed by China, mostly relegated discussions to mid-year technical meetings. China may also seek clarity on implementation pathways for existing targets, including nationally determined contributions (NDCs) and the $300bn climate finance goal. Amid US withdrawal, officials remain anxious about additional pressure that Beijing may receive. After vice-premier Ding Xuexiang shared at COP29 that China has provided and mobilised over 177bn yuan ($26.5bn) in climate finance for developing countries since 2016, China has refrained from issuing further quantitative updates, while maintaining the imperative for developed countries to take the lead on climate finance.