The roles they play: change in China’s climate leadership role during the post-Paris era

China’s rise has accelerated expectations for it to step up as a climate leader  – a role that has thus far been expected from developed countries. This article explores how China communicates its role to the international audience: is the role of global climate leader being increasingly seen as an appropriate one for China? From a role-theoretical perspective, it studies how China’s expectations changed during the post-Paris era 2016–2021. The article shows that China adapted its climate-leader role 2016–2020. However, a more apparent change in the role in 2021 exemplifies role learning. The article concludes that China has shifted the auxiliary role of climate leader to a more central position in its role set, reinforcing its master roles of responsible great power and leader of the developing world. Understanding China’s emerging leadership is crucial for recognizing the global variability of climate leadership conceptions, particularly in non-western contexts.