The joint agreement between EU and China to fight global warming has been hailed as a big step forward by a number of politicians and climate experts. It is widely seen as cementing a new climate leadership ahead of COP30. The Union, however, is keeping a close eye on China’s leading position in the production of clean technologies.
“Our cooperation (on climate) can set a global benchmark,” Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said at the end of EU-China summit held in Beijing on Thursday, 24 July. Teresa Ribera, the Commission Vice-President for clean, just and competetive transition hailed the climate agreement as “a meaningful step in a world facing growing geopolitical tensions and climate risks.”
Ribera reminded that the climate agreement means a joint support for the United Nations Climate Change Conference COP30 which will be organized in November 2025 in Brazil. Both sides, EU and China, committed to submit 2035 climate targets before the conference starts.
Cooperation between the EU and China on climate change is now even more important. US President Donald Trump recently announced United States’ withdrawal from the 2015 Paris Agreement (in effect from January 2026). The treaty, among other things, stipulates that the increase of global temperature should be kept below 1.5 °C. “Together, the European Union and China must uphold the Paris Agreement. Now more than ever,” President von der Leyen said.
Together, the European Union and China must uphold the Paris Agreement. Now more than ever. – Commission President Ursula von der Leyen
Also many climate policy experts and scientists welcomed the EU-China agreement as a reinforcement of willingness to cooperate. “It offers a timely stabilising signal in an increasingly fragmented geopolitical landscape,” Andreas Sieber, the associate director of policy and campaigns at climate group 350.org, said.
China’s leadership in clean tech
Seen from the European perspective, however, not everything necessarily seems to be bright. China’s leading position in green technology, especially in solar panels, batteries, and electric cars, raises concern among EU politicians. China now offers the cheapest and most advanced products in many green sectors which may be beneficial to the climate. But China’s subsidised export model also may pose a direct threat to Europe’s industrial base.
That concern was echoed in Commission President’s remarks at a news conference held after meeting Chinese President Xi Jinping. “Europe keeps its markets open to Chinese goods. However, this openness is not matched by China,” Ms von der Leyen said addressing the trade imbalance between EU and China which also includes green tech.
