Why Climate Leadership Is Set for a China-India Tango

China seems willing to assume the mantle of climate leadership, but there are several factors affecting its acceptability at the global high table on climate. India's record on climate action makes it well-suited to partner China here.

- Aparna Roy

A recent analysis by Carbon Brief, which found that nearly 95% of the countries that signed the Paris Agreement have missed the United Nations (UN) deadline to submit new climate pledges for 2035, is cause for worry. The finding comes at a time when United States (US) President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to withdraw the US from the Paris Agreement, eroding the global momentum for climate action.

The countries missing the deadline collectively account for 83% of global emissions and nearly 80% of the world's economy, raising serious concerns about the agreement's ability to drive meaningful climate progress. Meanwhile, the intensifying frequency of climate disasters—from record-breaking heatwaves and catastrophic floods to extreme wildfires—underscores the urgent need for decisive leadership. Without immediate and committed action, the Paris Agreement risks becoming an empty promise rather than a binding global commitment.

Under these circumstances, the world needs to urgently fill the leadership vacuum in global climate governance and push for collective action to combat the climate crisis. Observers believe that the US's exit from the Paris Agreement has created an opportunity for China and India to take on the global climate leadership. Both nations have demonstrated significant commitment, strong credentials, and leadership potential through proactive measures aimed at reducing carbon emissions.

China has shifted from a traditionally insular foreign policy to a more internationalist approach, particularly in the realm of climate leadership. Following the US's withdrawal from the Paris Agreement, China reaffirmed its commitment to multilateralism, with Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang describing it as the "golden key" to addressing global challenges.