Why China is hesitant on global green leadership

Heads of state (from left, front) Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi, Chinese Deputy Prime Minister Ding Xuexiang and Guyanese President Irfaan Ali attend the leaders’ roundtable on Nov 6 to launch the Tropical Forest Forever Facility (TFFF) during the pre-COP Belém Climate Summit in Brazil. — AFP

AHEAD of this year’s United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30), China appeared keen to take on the mantle of a new global leader on climate change, stepping into the gap left by the United States’ withdrawal from the top spot under Donald Trump.

In trying to understand what China wants from this role, it’s worth examining three areas motivating Beijing to take over leadership and two others it is trying to avoid.