China’s Status in International Climate Negotiations

This report was originally published by the China Knowledge Network on 18 December, 2025.

• In international climate negotiations, China has identified itself as a developing country since the early 1990s, which means it is exempted from climate finance commitments and less pressured about taking on an absolute emission reduction target.
• For China the issue of developing country status is a matter of principle, grounded in the fact that its global identity is and has always been strongly linked to solidarity with the developing world.
• The EU is pressured by developing countries and NGOs to provide more climate finance and reduce emissions faster, whereas it considers China a superpower and big polluter that could also do more, whilst recognizing its impressive contribution to energy transition at home and through its Belt and Road Initiative financing scheme.
• In raising the issue, the Netherlands and other European countries and NGOs could highlight the developing country status of other richer countries. In addition, they need to be careful in copying Global South-narratives.
• Addressing the developing country status of China outright is unlikely to be constructive in a context where both China and the EU have a joint interest in the global energy transformation to reduce fossil fuel use and mitigate climate change.
• A forthcoming emissions credit system to meet the 5% flexibility target of the EU’s new emissions reduction target for 2040 may provide a renewed opportunity to negotiate with China on if and how the China and the EU can cooperate on climate change.  

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