Heavy rains from Typhoon Maysak caused significant flooding across southwestern China’s Guangxi province, resulting in 39 deaths and nine missing persons, according to state reports. The same storm system triggered rare tornadoes in Hubei province that killed at least 11 people. Meanwhile, extreme heat affected northwestern Xinjiang and southern Hainan provinces in June, with temperatures reaching 50 degrees Celsius in Xinjiang. An unnamed researcher cited by state media attributed the severity of flooding to aging infrastructure, particularly small and medium-sized reservoirs that struggle to manage extreme weather events in the context of global climate change.
China’s meteorological administration released findings indicating the country is warming faster than the global average, with annual temperatures increasing by 0.31 degrees Celsius per decade from 1961 to 2025. The administration documented that extreme weather and climate events have become increasingly frequent and severe, including instances of extreme heat, heavy precipitation, and typhoons. These meteorological trends informed several policy initiatives released by the Chinese government.
The government published its 15th five-year plan for implementing a “Beautiful China” initiative, which outlines seven key tasks including active responses to climate change. The plan establishes quantitative targets for 2030, including a 3 percent reduction in carbon emissions per unit of production within industries covered by China’s national carbon market. Additional provisions call for controlling coal use and reasonably managing coal-power capacity expansion while accelerating clean energy deployment to meet new electricity demand. A separate five-year plan on meteorological development emphasizes enhanced support for climate action and deeper participation in international climate science efforts, while a circular economy plan addresses recycling challenges for clean-technology equipment such as batteries and renewable energy infrastructure.
China released an action plan focused on achieving carbon emission peaks by 2030, reiterating existing targets for carbon intensity and non-fossil energy shares in total energy consumption. The plan prioritizes promotion of non-fossil energy development and improved grid integration of new energy sources. However, Bloomberg reported the plan does not restrict the coal-to-chemicals industry, instead focusing on low-carbon retrofits and gradual substitution of fossil-based inputs.
In international developments, the European Union and China established a new trade and investment consultation mechanism with an October deadline for resetting trade relations, addressing tensions over cleantech exports and other economic matters. A Chinese consulting firm and European certification bodies formed a consortium to develop mutual recognition standards for green electricity certificates. Meanwhile, China implemented stricter energy efficiency standards for solar manufacturers to address overcapacity and rolled back certain tax exemptions for plug-in hybrid vehicles and electric commercial trucks.