introduction

The importance of leadership in international public affairs, particularly in global climate change governance, was discussed. The article points out that with the deepening of international exchanges and the increasing number of global issues, the application of leadership has expanded to the international and global levels. Climate change is a prominent case of leadership influence in global public goods governance. The article reviews the institutional evolution and practical progress of United Nations climate governance, emphasizing the joint efforts of the parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the crucial role of climate governance leaders at critical moments. Special mention was made of the leadership role of the European Union and some small island developing countries in climate governance. The article also analyzed China's leadership in climate governance, pointing out that China's performance is becoming increasingly proactive and its leadership role is gradually strengthening. According to a survey by European scholars, it has been found that China's climate leadership has been stable and gradually increasing since 2008. Current research mainly analyzes China's climate leadership from the perspectives of negotiation and emission reduction, but there are still shortcomings in the academic analysis, requiring a more systematic theoretical framework and comprehensive analysis. This article aims to provide a new analytical path for understanding China's climate leadership from the perspective of relational leadership, combined with the latest climate policies and actions in China.

1、 Leadership from a relational perspective

In the field of environmental governance, leadership research was initially based on the "leader laggard" perspective, equating leadership with the role of pioneers and models. However, this approach has problems, such as using the same standards to measure different actors and ignoring the relationship attributes and cooperation requirements between different members in the global governance system. Chinese scholars have proposed a relationship theory based on Chinese culture, emphasizing that leadership is a relationship and that exerting leadership is a process of relationship. Leadership contains three elements at the conceptual level: leader, follower, and common goal, revealing its relational attributes. At the theoretical level, the source of relational leadership is the relationships between subjects, and the stronger the relationships, the greater the potential for leadership. The exercise of leadership requires both material and non-material elements as media, such as resources, economy, culture, institutions, etc. Leadership also has a process oriented nature, it is a continuous dynamic practice process, a two-way empowering exchange relationship, and can achieve win-win or multi win through cooperation. China focuses on the negotiation process in climate governance and promotes global governance by maintaining the governance process.

2、 The prominent characteristics of China's climate leadership

China's leadership in global climate governance has three significant characteristics: inclusiveness, cooperation, and integration. Inclusiveness is reflected in the Chinese philosophical tradition of mutual tolerance, complementarity, and harmony. China takes into account the needs of different groups of countries in climate governance, promotes harmonious relations, and maintains harmony among the parties to the Convention. In terms of cooperation, China has established close or friendly relationship networks with different countries and international organizations to promote climate governance negotiations and practices through cooperation rather than coercion. Integration is reflected in China's combination of rule-based governance and relational governance, emphasizing both participation and maintenance of the United Nations climate regime, as well as promoting climate negotiations and actions through relational governance, balancing the interests of all parties, and achieving the goals of global climate governance.

3、 The presentation of China's climate leadership

The presentation of China's climate leadership is reflected in the comprehensive use of structural resources, governance concepts, diplomatic skills, and domestic actions to guide global climate governance. Since the Bali Climate Change Conference, China's leadership has gradually strengthened, especially significantly improved at the Paris Climate Conference. In terms of domestic target management, China continues to improve its climate governance goals, promoting goal achievement through national governance capabilities such as increasing carbon intensity, energy intensity, and non fossil energy targets, while relying on institutional advantages and governance capabilities to achieve emission reduction results. In terms of low-carbon action, China is promoting the upgrading of traditional industries and the construction of a clean energy system, such as formulating the "30-60" dual carbon target roadmap, accelerating the comprehensive green transformation of economic and social development, especially in the energy and power, industrial, and transportation industries. In terms of international reciprocal cooperation, China has carried out climate cooperation with developed countries and regions such as Europe, as well as emerging economies, such as cooperation in green finance and cooperation with Arab oil countries in low-carbon technology and industrial upgrading. In terms of international climate assistance, through the "China Climate Change South South Cooperation Fund" and the "the Belt and Road Initiative", China has provided material and technical assistance to small island developing States, African countries and least developed countries to help them improve their ability to mitigate and adapt to climate change. These actions not only promote the global climate governance process, but also enhance China's leadership in global climate governance.

4、 The Global Impact of China's Climate Leadership

During the transition of the United Nations climate system from the Kyoto model to the Paris model, China, as a leader in global climate governance, has had a positive impact on institutional construction, the development of contracting party relations, and the confidence and effectiveness of global climate governance. China's climate leadership has demonstrated pioneering characteristics during the implementation phase of the Paris Agreement, mainly influencing global climate governance from two dimensions: institutional and practical.

conclusion

China's climate leadership is achieved in the international community through a network of relationships with other parties to the Convention, including interactions with developed countries, emerging economies, and developing countries. At the domestic level, China has demonstrated leadership by setting the "30-60" dual carbon target and accelerating green actions; At the international level, promoting global climate governance through developing mutually beneficial relationships and providing low-carbon assistance. The three characteristics of China's climate leadership are: balancing socio-economic development with ecological environment protection, building a harmonious global climate governance network through mutually beneficial cooperation, and addressing climate change through a combination of rule-based and relational governance. These characteristics reflect the mutual tolerance, complementarity, and harmony of traditional Chinese culture, contributing Chinese wisdom to global climate governance. The research significance lies in providing new data and information, providing new cases for the relationship theory and relational leadership concept of international politics, and filling the gap of traditional opposing perspectives. Future research can compare the climate leadership of different leaders and explore the feasibility of shared leadership to achieve global climate governance goals.