The United States and China agreed to work together toward curbing climate change, just before President Joe Biden is slated to host a virtual summit of world leaders on the issue.
U.S. special envoy for climate John Kerry and his Chinese equivalent Xie Zhenhua reached an agreement during a two-day meeting in Shanghai last week, according to a readout from the U.S. Department of State published Saturday.
The U.S. and China “are committed to cooperating with each other and with other countries to tackle the climate crisis, which must be addressed with the seriousness and urgency that it demands,” the statement said. Both countries committed to “tak[ing] enhanced climate actions” such as financing transitions to green energy sources and phasing down hydrofluorocarbon production and consumption in an effort to hold the global average temperature increase to below 2 degrees Celsius.
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China is the country with the most carbon emissions in the world, followed by the U.S. Both countries are responsible for about half of the fossil fuel fumes that are heating the planet.
During a meeting with reporters in Seoul on Sunday, Kerry noted China is the largest user of coal on the planet, adding that he and other Chinese climate officials had much to discuss about accelerating a global energy transition.
“I have never shied away from expressing our views shared by many, many people that it is imperative to reduce coal, everywhere,” Kerry said, according to multiple outlets.
The new climate agreement between the U.S. and China reaffirms the countries’ commitment to the Paris Agreement. On his first day in office, Biden signed an order returning the U.S. to the climate accord, a sharp departure from the stance held by former President Donald Trump, who removed the nation from the pact during his term in office.
Despite formal discussions about goals to wind down global carbon emissions, Vice Foreign Minister Le Yucheng signaled Friday that China is not likely to make any new pledges at this week’s summit hosted by Biden in an interview with the Associated Press.
“For a big country with 1.4 billion people, these goals are not easily delivered,” Le said. “Some countries are asking China to achieve the goals earlier. I am afraid this is not very realistic.”
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During the virtual climate summit on April 22 and 23, the U.S. is slated to announce a 2030 emissions target as its new nationally determined contribution under the Paris Agreement, according to a White House statement. Biden urged the over 40 different world leaders attending the summit to use the opportunity to outline how their countries will contribute to stronger climate improvement goals. Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin were among the leaders invited by Biden.
It is not clear whether Russia plans to make any pledges at the summit this week, following sanctions levied at the country for U.S. election interference and cyberattacks.
