China wants to lead the climate agenda on its own terms – exporting clean tech and influence, while sidestepping tougher cuts and accountability. By Alex Lo

Given that China is the world’s largest emitter and has a high carbon intensity, some assume that its trade war with the United States, which has shifted production to third countries, would have environmental benefits. In fact, the conflict has increased carbon dioxide emissions in developing and advanced economies alike. By Qiyuan Xu

Much of the international community has been under the illusion that climate action and development are different pursuits. But to make progress on both agendas, the delegates at this year’s United Nations Climate Change Conference must recognise that they are one and the same, and begin building an integrated financing system. By Mahmoud Mohieldin

Three decades after the optimism of the 1992 Earth Summit, the climate regime faces a tough test. The retreat of multilateralism and the rules-based international order has left COP30 struggling to hold together the fading promise of global action. By Carlos Frederico Pereira da Silva Gama