For the first time in three decades, the United States is absent from the U.N.’s annual climate summit, and China is rapidly filling the void. From commanding the most prominent pavilion at COP30 to deploying a robust diplomatic and corporate presence, Beijing has stepped into a leadership role once associated with Washington.
China’s influence is visible across the sprawling conference grounds in Belem, where executives from its largest clean-energy firms address packed audiences in English and diplomats work behind the scenes to keep negotiations on track.
“Water flows to where there is space, and diplomacy often does the same,” said Francesco La Camera, director general of the International Renewable Energy Agency. He told Reuters that China’s dominance in renewable energy and electric vehicles has bolstered its position in global climate diplomacy.
China’s rising prominence coincides with a major geopolitical shift. President Donald Trump, returning to office this year, has again withdrawn the United States from the Paris Agreement and declined to send a high-level delegation to COP30, a historic first for the world’s largest historical emitter.
“President Trump will not jeopardize our country’s economic and national security to pursue vague climate goals that are killing other countries,” White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers said.
The U.S. retreat has reshaped the dynamics of COP30, where China, once a quiet participant, is now a central actor seeking global attention and influence. China’s expanding role is reinforced by the visibility of its major energy companies.
At an event hosted by CATL, the world’s largest battery manufacturer, vice president Meng Xiangfeng urged governments to “advance climate cooperation and build a clean, beautiful world together.”
CATL supplies roughly one-third of batteries used by automakers including Tesla, Ford, and Volkswagen, and this year marked the company’s first time hosting a public event at a COP summit.
Earlier, China’s vice minister of ecology Li Gao emphasized that China’s scale in renewable energy benefits “countries, particularly in the Global South.” Other major Chinese firms — including State Grid, Trina Solar, and Longi — also showcased technologies aimed at expanding global clean-energy access.
Electric vehicle giant BYD introduced a fleet of plug-in hybrids compatible with biofuel produced at its Bahia, Brazil plant, providing transportation for delegates throughout the conference.
COP30 President Andre Correa do Lago and CEO Ana de Toni praised China for driving down global clean-energy costs. “China has shown leadership not only by carrying out its own energy revolution,” de Toni said, “but by enabling other countries to buy low-carbon solutions at competitive prices.”
Africa Digital News, New York
