A clear signal that both sides are willing to work together on climate and clean tech would demonstrate credibility, foresight, and responsibility in an increasingly fractured world.
- EU and China climate cooperation is about recognising where interests align – and where global leadership demands pragmatic engagement.
- The EU and China share a strategic interest in preserving global stability and advancing the clean economy transition.
- The EU and China are central to shaping clean technology markets, critical supply chains, and global standards for their own competitiveness, and for the success of the global transition.
Story
The 25th EU–China summit takes place on 24 July 2025 in Beijing. António Costa, President of the European Council, Ursula Von Der Leyen, President of the European Commission, will meet with Xi Jinping, President of China and Li Qiang, Premier of China.
The EU and China, as two of the world’s most influential climate actors, will play a central role in shaping COP30 outcomes and the next decade of climate diplomacy. The Summit is a key milestone to reinject confidence in global climate cooperation and help set the course for a successful COP and decisive decade ahead.
For the world to peak emissions this decade, it will be critical for China to submit an ambitious NDC by September.
That is in China’s hands, and it will send a positive signal to the multilateral community to maintain progress together despite contradictory forces in the world.
The science tells us we can’t move at the pace of the laggards such as the US, but climate risk could be rebooted with fears of push back driven by disruptive political actors, yet polls with the public and business tell us that people are calling for more action from their governments not less.
China peaking is important as a critical narrative counteracting those delaying action who cite the relative size of their country’s actions vs China or India as a cause for apathy or delay.
- The EU and China are global heavyweights – economically, diplomatically, and industrially. While they compete across many domains, from trade to technology, they also share a strategic interest in preserving global stability and advancing the clean economy transition. At a time when geopolitical divisions are deepening, the world cannot afford for its major powers to talk past each other on climate.
- The EU and China are central to shaping clean technology markets, critical supply chains, and global standards. Whether they move in conflict or coordination will have profound consequences not just for their own competitiveness, but for the success of the global transition – especially in emerging and developing economies that depend on affordable, secure, and rules-based pathways to decarbonisation.
- Climate cooperation between the EU and China is not about setting aside competition. It is about recognising where interests align – and where global leadership demands pragmatic engagement. A clear signal that both sides are willing to work together on climate and clean tech would demonstrate credibility, foresight, and responsibility in an increasingly fractured world.
Quotes
Nick Mabey, CEO, E3G, said:
“Over the past 30 years, climate cooperation has become one of the most constructive pillars of EU–China relations. Today, the EU–China climate diplomacy relationship could once again become a stabilising force in a fractured world. With multilateralism under strain and global ambition at risk, the quiet consistency of their cooperation, rooted in mutual interest and long-term vision, has the potential to shape outcomes far beyond their borders. The EU and China don’t need to reinvent their partnership, they need to reinvest in it, and step up as pragmatic anchors of global climate ambition.”
Steffen Menzel, Programme Lead, Climate Diplomacy & Geopolitics, E3G, said:
“While the EU and China have different interests and compete across many areas, including trade and security, it is absolutely critical for these global powers to come together where their interests – and those of the vast majority of the world’s population – align. That means aligning on global rules, maintaining a stable world order, and addressing shared challenges like climate change and the clean energy transition.
Both stand to gain enormously from cooperating on climate and the clean economy. Their leaders must send a clear and unambiguous message that despite their differences, they are partnering on these vital issues – taking joint responsibility and demonstrating leadership to safeguard climate stability and advance the global clean economy transition.”
Angeline Sanzay, Senior Policy Advisor, EU Climate Diplomacy, E3G, said:
“As two of the world’s largest economies and emitters, the EU and China are pivotal actors in the global fight against climate change. Their ability to find common ground at the Summit on 24 July is not only critical for the success of COP30 later this year, but essential to charting the course for global climate action over the next decade and inject much-needed momentum into a fragile multilateral system. In a moment of mounting geopolitical tension and a fragile multilateral system, climate cooperation and leadership must rise above rivalry and competition, and take centre stage.
The EU and China have clear strategic interests in working together to protect and propel forward the Paris Agreement, uphold climate ambitions, shape global standards, promote fairer competition, and secure leadership in the clean energy transition.”
Available for comment
Nick Mabey OBE (EN), CEO, E3G. (Climate diplomacy, foreign policy, 2025 ambition) m: +44 (0)7949 768 771 | nick.mabey@e3g.org
Steffen Menzel – E3G Programme Lead (EN, DE) – EU NDC, climate diplomacy
Steffen.menzel@e3g.org | +49 (0) 151 5120 1182
Angeline Sanzay (EN), Senior Policy Advisor, EU Climate Diplomacy, E3G.
m: +32 (0) 499 711 955 | angeline.sanzay@e3g.org
Related E3G publications
An EU–China climate agenda: Recommendations for climate safety and growing the clean economy https://www.e3g.org/publications/eu-china-climate-agenda-climate-safety-growing-clean-economy/
China and the climate future of the global south https://www.e3g.org/news/china-global-south/
China’s climate-related finance to developing countries: A work in progress https://www.e3g.org/publications/china-s-climate-related-finance-to-developing-countries-a-work-in-progress/
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Notes to Editors
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