Trade and political tensions between the European Union and China should not hinder joint efforts to reduce emissions ahead of COP30. As the United States withdraws from the Paris Agreement once again, the EU and China emerge as global leaders in climate change. Although the contributions of both countries so far are insufficient, their collaboration can maintain progress in a fragmented system. China, the world’s largest emitter, shows a decline in its emissions growth, with an increase in renewable energies but maintaining a strong dependence on coal.