COP30: China Says US Will “Eventually” Rejoin Global Climate Efforts

China is confident that the United States will eventually return to global climate negotiations, a senior Beijing official told AFP on Wednesday at the COP30 summit.

He added that the world must send a clear signal that the shift toward a green, low-carbon future “cannot be reversed.” Historically, cooperation between the US and China — the world’s largest economies and biggest carbon emitters — has been crucial in breaking impasses at UN climate conferences. But this year, President Donald Trump, who withdrew the US from the Paris Agreement, has kept Washington away from the talks in Belem, Brazil.

“Addressing climate change requires every country,” said Li Gao, head of China’s delegation and deputy environment minister. “We hope that someday — and we believe that someday in the future — the US will come back.”

Li contrasted China’s rapid expansion of renewable energy and electric vehicles with the Trump administration’s push for fossil fuels and rollback of green policies introduced under former president Joe Biden.

He said China’s priority at COP30 is to support Brazil’s presidency and help send a strong message that the global green transition must continue and that cooperation among nations cannot weaken. “It is very important that parties show political solidarity and commit to working together to address climate change. We must ensure this COP is an implementation COP,” he added.

Li also urged nations to guard against the “negative impact” of geopolitical tensions, unilateral actions, and protectionist measures.

A central focus at this year’s negotiations is climate finance — specifically how developing countries can be supported in adopting clean energy and adapting to climate impacts. At COP29 in Baku, developed nations agreed to provide $300 billion annually in climate finance to poorer countries by 2035, though the amount has been widely criticized as insufficient. They also endorsed a broader goal of mobilizing $1.3 trillion a year from public and private sources.

A report released jointly by the COP29 and COP30 hosts says the world has the tools to meet these targets. Li welcomed the report but stressed that wealthy nations must honour their commitments. “The $300 billion pledge is their responsibility, and it is crucial that developed countries fulfil it,” he said.