Analysis-China Finds Bigger Role as US Sidesteps Brazil Climate Summit

Reuters | US News ^ | November 15, 2025 | By Valerie Volcovici and Lisandra Paraguassu

[Oldeconomybuyer]

BELEM, Brazil (Reuters) -With the United States absent from the U.N. annual international climate summit for the first time in three decades, China is stepping into the limelight as a leader in the fight against global warming.

Its country pavilion dominates the entrance hall of the sprawling COP30 conference grounds in Brazil's Amazon city of Belem, executives from its biggest clean energy companies are presenting their visions for a green future to large audiences in English, and its diplomats are working behind the scenes to ensure constructive talks.

Those were Washington's roles, but they now reside with Beijing.

China’s transformation from a quiet presence at the U.N.’s Conference of the Parties summits to a more central player seeking the world’s attention reflects a shift in the fight against global warming since U.S. President Donald Trump’s return to office.

But critics warn the U.S. withdrawal from the process cedes valuable ground in the climate negotiations, particularly as China, currently the world's top greenhouse gas emitter, rapidly expands its renewable and EV industries.

"China gets it," said California Governor Gavin Newsom during a visit to the conference earlier this week. "America is toast competitively, if we don't wake up to what the hell they're doing in this space, on supply chains, how they're dominating manufacturing, how they’re flooding the zone."

[MinorityRepublican]

"China gets it," said California Governor Gavin Newsom

💵

[escapefromboston]

China and India create most of the worlds pollution so if they should be taking the lead , though of course they actually won’t

[cgbg]

https://www.carbonbrief.org/chinas-construction-of-new-coal-power-plants-reached-10-year-high-in-2024/

China is laughing at the stupid leftists.

[Hazwaste]

China, the biggest polluter in the world? That China?

[FlingWingFlyer]

No Greaseball. America “gets it”. China is the world’s #1 polluter. If somebody needs to clean it up, it should be them. Not the American taxpayers.

[rktman]

Absent? Newscum went. 🙄

[Jane Long]

I think the Rep who flew down to have a margarita with the Ms13 gangster/prisoner also went.

Such representation!

[butlerweave]

China is a Scam

[Omnivore-Dan]

China, one of the world’s worse polluters is going to lead the empty cause. Great they can have it, spend tons of money for nothing.

[Cronos]

[ProtectOurFreedom]

Yep, China is a leader in environmentalism. Just look at their success in Beijing.

Their fake concern for the environment is to sucker the rubes around the world. And the rubes love to be suckered if they smell a dollar to be made.

[Mastador1]

What China gets is that while they are one of the biggest polluters on Earth they influence other countries to cripple their industry, economies and electric grids. As for Newsom, I have no doubt that he, like so many democrats is bought and paid for by the chicoms.

[marktwain]

Trump described the “climate change” hoax as a Chinese scam.

He is exactly correct.

[existentially_kuffer]

China finds bigger role?? LOL. It’s already the biggest polluter!

[rktman]

Remember when LA looked like that?

[butlerweave]

Chins is a Scam and fits right in with their Climate Scam ,LOL

[AndyTheBear]

China finds bigger role in taking junk science seriously? Oh no...we are falling behind!

[rlmorel]

"..."China gets it," said California Governor Gavin Newsom..."

Oh yes. They get it completely, as demonstrated in this fictional conversation below where the CCP Officials are being videoed for a COP30 short to be shown in support of efforts to control Climate Change:

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CHINESE COMMUNIST OFFICIAL 1: It is very important that the world, particularly the United States, fully appreciates how concerned China is with Climate Change. We all live on the same planet, drink the same water, and breathe the same air.

CHINESE COMMUNIST OFFICIAL 2: We view the US rejection of Global Climate Treaties as a very serious matter, and think the world should sanction the United States for their irresponsibility

CHINESE COMMUNIST OFFICIAL 3: There should be trials in the World Court in Brussels to punish officials in the United States who reject the worldwide efforts (that include China as a leader) to lessen CO2 emissions, lessen the impact of Climate Change, and make the planet environmentally stable for the generations that follow us.

CHINESE COMMUNIST OFFICIAL 4: Forward looking leaders in America like Gavin Newsom have partnered with us to oppose the Trump Administration's efforts to subvert the global battle against Climate Change. He is standing up to Americans who do not understand that this fragile planet that we all share needs us to protect it. Selfish countries like the United States need to understand their childish and irresponsible behavior will not be accepted or tolerated by the rest of the world.

XI JINPING: States in the USA like California, led by the courageous leadership of Governor Gavin Newsom, are fully embracing the effort to decrease CO2 levels in the atmosphere, advance the use of solar, wind, and electric vehicles, and China stands ready to provide the manufacturing. Governor Gavin Newsom has shown great courage in bypassing the Trump Administration to enter into direct "agreements" with foreign nations like China to advance this cooperative effort to save our planet, and we encourage all other local and state governments in the United States to do the same. We stand ready and willing to combat Climate Change no matter what the American federal government decides to do, and will provide any monetary support necessary directly to individual states and localities that partner with China on this most important of all issues.

CHINESE PROPAGANDA PRODUCER: CUT! Perfect, that is a wrap!

CHINESE COMMUNIST OFFICIAL 1: AHHHHHAHAHAHA! OMG! I could barely keep a straight face! Who writes this stuff, it is hilarious!

CHINESE PROPAGANDA PRODUCER: (Scowling, and glancing nervously at Xi Jinping) Hey! This is important. We were told to write it this way!

CHINESE COMMUNIST OFFICIAL 3: (Laughing,with tears running down his cheeks) We know, we know. But my gosh, when I read the script, I just could not imagine that Americans will swallow this, and that is what makes it fantastically funny-they have free access to all kinds of information, but STILL, the people with pink hair and nose rings will accept this fully, and without any hesitation, will show up to protest their government!

CHINESE COMMUNIST OFFICIAL 2: Amazing, isn't it? They don't understand that we couldn't give two piles of Panda dung about the environment or CO2 emissions, so when I saw you saying with a straight face say "...fully appreciates how concerned China is with Climate Change. We all live on the same planet, drink the same water, and breathe the same air..." I had to stuff this napkin in my mouth to keep from bursting out with laughter and ruining the video!

XI JINPING: (Gently, but firmly) Okay. That's enough. This is serious business here. I know how difficult it is to imagine any thinking person could see us building coal and oil fired energy plants by the hundreds each year (while we nurture environmentalists in the USA in their efforts to stifle building even a SINGLE energy plant of ANY kind and send money to both Democrat AND Republican politicians to further our goals) and yet accept it at face value. It is hard to imagine. But remember, we don't need ALL Americans to buy into what we are selling here. We only need a portion of Americans to do so, and on the American Left, they are ready and willing to become Useful Idiots and will gum up the efforts Trump is making to restore industry to their country. So let's stay serious and dedicated on creating videos like these that Americans will lap up without question. By the way, did we ever get that Tik Tok algorithm altered to begin showing them videos like these as we lead up to the COP30 summit? I want results. Get me the latest American poll numbers on Climate Change.

---

Oh, yeah, Newsom.
China "gets it" alright.

[Moltke]

China is stepping into the limelight as a leader in the fight against global warming.

Reuters actually wrote that?