HELSINKI, Nov. 11 (Xinhua) -- China is increasingly becoming a pivotal force in global climate governance as the United States retreats and Europe adjusts its approach, Finland's Helsingin Sanomat (HS) said in an editorial on Tuesday.

Titled "China is emerging as a key player in climate policy," the editorial noted that the United States is absent from the ongoing 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference in Belem, Brazil. HS said U.S. President Donald Trump's administration is even suspected of seeking to disrupt international climate cooperation, citing Washington's recent veto at the International Maritime Organization against a global emissions-reduction plan for shipping.

Meanwhile, European Union leaders, long seen as champions of climate action, are now emphasizing competitiveness alongside climate goals, a shift that HS said could weaken the bloc's climate efforts.

With the U.S. stepping back, China is emerging as a decisive force in global climate policy, HS said. It highlighted that China's development strategy increasingly links economic growth with climate objectives, driving the global green transition through technology and investments, particularly in developing countries vulnerable to climate risks.

HS praised China's pragmatic climate approach, noting that it often surpasses its own realistic targets. The paper said China has fulfilled most of its previous pledges and unveiled new ones, including expanding renewable energy capacity and further reducing emissions by 2035.

HS warned that global emission-reduction efforts still fall short of the Paris Agreement's goals. As the U.S. reduces development funding and some EU countries scale back climate financing, stronger joint action is needed, the editorial said.

Nevertheless, businesses continue to back the UN-led climate process, HS added. Finland has sent a corporate delegation to Belem to showcase its initiatives and commitment to global climate action.■