Nations eye new climate ties including China without US

Market: Emissions
21/05/25

The world's politicians are still working out how to deal with US president Donald Trump, but climate leaders will forge new, diversified relationships, with China likely to play a growing part, delegates heard today at the Financial Times Climate and Impact Summit Europe.

Trump's move to rapidly roll back US climate and environment-related regulation was a shock, but in Latin America, "underneath, so far, things have not really yet shifted", Colombia's former environment minister Susana Muhamad said today. Latin American countries are likely to further diversify relationships, she added, noting co-operation agreements signed in Beijing between Colombia and China. Colombia joined China's belt and road initiative earlier this month.

"The world is still grasping what Trump is doing", and countries are still forming new relationships, EU member of parliament and vice-chair of the parliament's environment committee Bas Eickhout said today. And the UN Cop 30 climate summit — set for November in Belem, Brazil — is happening early in the day in terms of those new relationships being formed in the climate space, he added.

China will be in "the driver's seat in some way… or at least a co-pilot", founding director at Chinese NGO the Institute of Public & Environmental Affairs Ma Jun said. The world's biggest economies "need to play a role in the governance", he added.

China and Europe have experienced many of the same pressures on climate policy, delegates heard. Although the "backlash" against some "green" policies started around two years ago, those pushing against such policy have been emboldened by Trump's election, Eickhout said.

"Energy security has been elevated to the top priority in China", Ma said — although China has already reached some of its 2030 renewable energy targets. In Europe, "I think the entire decarbonisation agenda will continue", but it will be framed as a competitiveness and security agenda, Eickhout said. He also noted some softening from industry previously pushing back on "green" policy, given that Europe's relative predictability has been thrown sharply into focus by drastic changes set out by the US government.

Muhamad pointed to the global need for a just energy transition. "If the transition does not bring higher equality, the transition will not happen", she said. Given that finance is crucial, "the influence of the US in the multilateral banks' decisions… will be critical", she added.

By Georgia Gratton and Victoria Hatherick

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Pakistan loses EU GSP+ ethanol status

20/06/25

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20/06/25

Pakistan loses EU GSP+ ethanol status

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Cop 28 outcome must be implemented in full: Cop 30 head

20/06/25

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20/06/25

Cop 28 outcome must be implemented in full: Cop 30 head

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Australia’s carbon credit supply remains strong in May

19/06/25

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19/06/25

Australia’s carbon credit supply remains strong in May

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Poland wraps up CBAM changes with European Parliament

18/06/25

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18/06/25

Poland wraps up CBAM changes with European Parliament

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