China’s special envoy for climate change affairs, Xie Zhenhua, stated in the United Kingdom on the 10th that China will strengthen cooperation with the United States in combating climate change. He also pointed out that the United States and China have reached a “joint initiative”. The United States and China will cooperate on reducing methane and emissions. Formulate specific rules to combat deforestation.
Agence France-Presse and The Associated Press reported that Xie Zhenhua “unexpectedly” announced the above news at a press conference in Glasgow. He pointed out that both China and the United States recognize that there is a gap between their current efforts and the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement. We will work together to strengthen the climate.”
The “Paris Climate Agreement” reached in 2015 requires countries to reduce the global average temperature to 1.5 degrees to 2 degrees Celsius through substantial emission reductions.
China and the United States are the two largest carbon emitters in the world, together accounting for nearly 40% of global carbon emissions.
Xie Zhenhua said that the Sino-U.S. “joint initiative” will involve a “specific plan” to strengthen action within this decade, and both countries will “commit to establish the norms of the Paris Climate Agreement at the United Nations Climate Summit in Glasgow.”
Another report from the Associated Press pointed out that the 26th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP26) also released a draft agreement on the COP26 joint declaration on the 10th, urging countries to increase their emission reduction targets by the end of 2022. The timing schedule is 3 years ahead of schedule. In addition, the draft agreement may also mention that governments of various countries are considering calling for the cessation of coal-fired power generation and will “phasing out subsidies for coal and fossil fuels,” but there is no set timetable.
The report said that the draft agreement of the COP26 joint declaration is not compulsory, and the final version may also have textual amendments.
According to Reuters, Xie Zhenhua said at a press conference that in the “joint initiative” between China and the United States on climate change, China will gradually reduce coal consumption during the “15th Five-Year Plan” period; the two sides will also reduce methane and emissions. Formulate specific and practical rules to combat deforestation.
According to this joint initiative, China and the United States will also communicate in advance of the emission reduction target to be reached by 2025 and reaching the original 2035.
China’s current goal is to peak carbon emissions by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060.
After U.S. President Biden came to power, he announced that the United States would return to the “Paris Climate Agreement”, and proposed to reduce U.S. carbon emissions by 50% to 52% by 2030, below the 2005 level of carbon emissions.
U.S. President Biden’s special envoy for climate change, John Kerry, pointed out that although the United States and China have many differences, they must cooperate on climate issues to resolve the issue.
The report did not mention whether Kerry made any comments on Xie Zhenhua’s “joint initiative” to address climate change.
Editor in charge; Zheng Chongsheng