China submits ‘disappointing’ NDC to the UN that commits to 1.2TW of renewables by 2030

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email
President Xi Jinping already committed to similar targets back in December. Image: UN Biodiversity via Twitter.

China has today submitted its highly anticipated and long awaited nationally determined contribution (NDC) to the United Nations that has committed to a renewable energy capacity of 1.2TW by 2030.

However, the plan has been condemned by climate organisations that say it represents little ambition or progress from its last NDC in 2016.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Unlock unlimited access for 12 whole months of distinctive global analysis

Photovoltaics International is now included.

  • Regular insight and analysis of the industry’s biggest developments
  • In-depth interviews with the industry’s leading figures
  • Unlimited digital access to the PV Tech Power journal catalogue
  • Unlimited digital access to the Photovoltaics International journal catalogue
  • Access to more than 1,000 technical papers
  • Discounts on Solar Media’s portfolio of events, in-person and virtual

Or continue reading this article for free

China had publicly committed to having 619GW of solar by 2030 and its updated NDC has committed to 1.2TW of renewables in total, more than double its current level of 535GW, according to documents submitted to the UN.

The world’s largest carbon polluter has committed to peaking emissions by 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2060, a target which many had hoped would be brought forward to 2050 in the run up to the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow.

While the targets contained in the new NDC are an improvement on the 2016 submission, they are no more ambitious than the objectives put forward by Chinese President XI Jinping at the Climate Action Summit hosted in the UK last December.

The country’s NDC said it will lower its carbon intensity by more than 65% by 2030 from 2005 levels, and increase its share of non-fossil fuels in its energy mix to around 25% by 2030.

“Despite massive reductions in the cost of clean technology and worsening climate impacts globally, China hasn’t clearly committed to reduce emissions in the 2020s in these new targets. This is disappointing and a missed opportunity,” said Nick Mabey, CEO of environmental thinktank E3G.  

Yesterday (28 October), PV Tech Premium broke down the key players at the conference and reported that China was the one to watch at COP26, with analysts hopeful that the country would be more ambitious in its climate targets.

10 March 2026
Frankfurt, Germany
The conference will gather the key stakeholders from PV manufacturing, equipment/materials, policy-making and strategy, capital equipment investment and all interested downstream channels and third-party entities. The goal is simple: to map out PV manufacturing out to 2030 and beyond.

Read Next

Premium
June 9, 2025
N-type polysilicon prices have dropped to RMB34,000/ton as the project installation rush ends, putting cost pressure on the industrial chain.
June 5, 2025
Investment in clean energy and grids will reach US$2.2 trillion in 2025, double the expected investment into fossil fuels this year, according to data from the International Energy Agency (IEA).
June 4, 2025
Chinese PV module manufacturer Haitai Solar has announced the termination of a 10GW TOPCon and the reallocation of investment to fund an Indonesian facility.
June 2, 2025
Arctech has partnered with ACME Cleantech Solutions to provide 175MW worth of solar trackers for an upcoming facility in Duqm, Oman.
Premium
May 29, 2025
PV Talk: Global Solar Council CEO Sonia Dunlop tells Shreeyashi Ojha why the solar industry needs collective action to combat political and supply-chain disruption.
Sponsored
May 28, 2025
Ben Willis speaks to Astronergy about its next-generation TOPCon offering and the advantages of its zero-busbar module design, both of which were on show at Intersolar 2025.

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
June 17, 2025
Napa, USA
Upcoming Webinars
June 30, 2025
10am PST / 6pm BST
Solar Media Events
July 1, 2025
London, UK
Solar Media Events
July 1, 2025
London, UK
Solar Media Events
September 16, 2025
Athens, Greece