GreenergyDaily

May. 14, 2026

China is benefiting from its position as a global leader in the green transition, and other countries should follow its example, according to the United Nations' top climate official.

"The further China goes, the faster the clean energy transition accelerates — the greater the benefit to your people and economy," Simon Stiell, executive secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, said in the text of a speech to be delivered Thursday in Beijing. "Where China leads, others follow. "

Stiell's remarks at Tsinghua University came during U.S. President Donald Trump's visit to Beijing. The U.S. has officially exited the Paris climate agreement for the second time

"It is in every country's interest to seize this moment, for prosperity and for stability," Stiell said. "That requires doubling-down on climate multilateralism."

China should aim to expand its leadership role at this year's UN summit in Turkey in November, and remains a model for nations to follow, according to Stiell. "We know China has a record not just of meeting, but exceeding, its targets," he said.