China at COP30 and the New Politics of Climate Change

9 snips

Nov 27, 2025

Anika Patel, a China analyst at Carbon Brief, shares insights from COP30 where China's role looms large amidst a U.S. absence. She discusses how China portrayed itself as a norm-setter in South Africa, yet shied away from being labeled a 'climate leader' in Brazil. Key issues include climate finance dynamics, tensions around trade measures, and the dilemma faced by developing nations weighing affordable Chinese green tech against local industrial goals. Patel highlights China's strategic positioning and influence in shaping the future of global climate politics.

Ask episode

AI Snips

Chapters

Transcript

Episode notes

INSIGHT

China Rejects Leadership Label

China took a prominent role at both the G20 and COP30 but publicly rejected being labeled the global leader on climate.
Beijing preferred coordination with other developing countries and emphasized sovereignty over a single leadership mantle.

INSIGHT

COP30 Was An Implementation COP

COP30 focused on implementation and consensus across diverse countries rather than a single headline topic.
Outcomes included plans to triple adaptation finance, a fossil-fuel roadmap, and a new just-transition work program.

INSIGHT

Status Shapes Financial Expectations

China insisted on maintaining developing-country status at COP to avoid expanded financial liabilities.
Officials highlighted technical leadership in clean energy but resisted broader responsibility demands.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Get the app

With the U.S. absent from two major international summits this month, the G20 in South Africa and the COP30 in Brazil, we got an early look at what the post-American order is starting to look like. In both instances, China moved to fill the void left by the U.S., taking on a much more prominent role.

Anika Patel, China analyst at the non-profit climate news site Carbon Brief, reported extensively from COP30 and noted a key difference in Beijing's messaging at the different summits in Johannesburg and Belém. In South Africa, Chinese Premier Li Qiang sought to position Beijing as an emergent global norm-setter, whereas in Brazil, the Chinese delegation explicitly rejected a leadership role.

Anika joins Eric & Cobus to discuss China's complicated position at the COP30 summit and why, even though it's the world's leader in climate energy and technology, the country explicitly doesn't want the designation "climate leader."

📌 Key topics in this episode:

• China's unusually prominent role at COP30 as the U.S. stayed away • Why China rejects the "climate leader" label despite its influence • How consensus politics shaped COP30 outcomes on finance, fossil fuels, and just transition • Climate finance tensions and China's insistence on developing-country status • Battles over CBAM, EV tariffs, rare earths, and other unilateral trade measures • How developing countries weigh cheap Chinese green tech against local industry goals • Why China's carbon market, energy transition, and pavilion drew huge interest at COP30

SHOW NOTES:

Carbon Brief: COP30: Key outcomes for food, forests, land and nature at the UN climate talks in Belém
Carbon Brief: COP30: Key outcomes agreed at the UN climate talks in Belém

JOIN THE DISCUSSION:

X: @ChinaGSProject | @eric_olander | @stadenesque

Facebook: www.facebook.com/ChinaAfricaProject YouTube: www.youtube.com/@ChinaGlobalSouth

Now on Bluesky! Follow CGSP at @chinagsproject.bsky.social

FOLLOW CGSP IN FRENCH & SPANISH:

French: www.projetafriquechine.com | @AfrikChine
Spanish: www.chinalasamericas.com | @ChinaAmericas

JOIN US ON PATREON! Become a CGSP Patreon member and get all sorts of cool stuff, including our Week in Review report, an invitation to join monthly Zoom calls with Eric & Cobus, and even an awesome new CGSP Podcast mug! www.patreon.com/chinaglobalsouth