China playing leading role in global corporate decarbonization

China is becoming a leading force in global corporate decarbonization, as its climate goals, manufacturing strength and fast-growing clean-energy industries are increasingly shaping how companies approach emissions reduction, a senior executive at the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) said.

"China is already playing the leading role, not just in Asia, but globally," said Alex Kazaglis, chief strategy and transformation officer at the SBTi, in an interview with China Daily.

That leadership, he said, is visible across several fronts — such as its strength in electric vehicles, renewable energy and batteries, sectors that have become central to the global low-carbon transition.

"The 'new three' industries are where China has had a lot of success and where the investment is," Kazaglis said. "It is leading globally, and these are critical areas of the transition."

The comments come as more Chinese companies are playing an increasingly important role in setting science-based climate targets, which require companies to align their emissions-reduction plans with pathways consistent with climate science.