Tensions have been high between the world's two greatest greenhouse gas emitters, but the restarted negotiations imply a step forward
Climate change communication between the US and China came to a standstill in August due to rising tensions over claimed Taiwan. China halted climate cooperation at the time, but negotiations have since restarted, according to the New York Times.
President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping met in person for the first time since the start of the covid-19 outbreak on Monday in Indonesia. The Bali discussion lasted nearly three hours and discussed a wide range of global concerns, including the prospect of nuclear war. It took place immediately before the official start of the annual Group 20 (G20) conference, which brings together leaders from the world's 20 major countries.
Climate change was supposedly one of the numerous topics discussed at the summit. "I think that China and the United States will play critical roles in solving global concerns, from climate change to food hunger, and to — for us to be able to work together," Biden said after the meeting.
"Humanity is facing unprecedented problems." "The world has reached a crossroads," added Xi, echoing Biden's plea for cooperation amid tough circumstances. Functional communication and coordination between the United States and China are crucial, particularly when it comes to climate change. China and the United States are the world's top two greenhouse gas polluters, with the United States significantly ahead of China in terms of per-capita emissions. The two countries create over 40% of the world's annual atmospheric carbon dioxide emissions.
Prior to the three-month diplomatic breach, China and the United States had been working together to cut emissions. Both nations' political leaders stated their commitment to collaborate on climate policies in 2021. Following last year's United Nations Climate Change Conference, the United States and China issued a joint declaration reaffirming their environmental commitments and defining cooperation emissions and energy targets. Climate change conference
Last week, Biden addressed at this year's COP27 in Egypt. During that speech, Obama discussed recent climate policy efforts, including as the enactment of the Inflation Reduction Act, and stated that the United States will begin forcing fossil fuel firms to repair methane leaks. However, he did not address the issue of climate reparations, which is on the COP agenda for the first time and would see the affluent countries most guilty for climate change pay for damages in the often-poorer, most hit nations. Biden also did not announce any new targets for reducing emissions.
Nonetheless, prominent diplomats and climate activists at COP27 were encouraged to hear that Xi and Biden were addressing our joint planetary fate once again. "The two largest emitters must be cooperative and ambitious," said Teresa Ribera, Spain's environment minister, to Reuters. And, according to Manish Bapna, president and CEO of the nonprofit Natural Resources Defense Council, "this clear signal from the two greatest economies to work together to address the climate catastrophe is more than welcome; it's critical."
Both China and the United States have begun to see the visible effects of climate change. This summer, China had its most extreme heatwave on record, lasting more than 72 days and causing widespread drought. In 2022, huge sections of the United States were afflicted by heatwaves, droughts, floods, and wildfires.
#Biden #XiJinping #COP27 #Climate
SOURCE: gizmodo
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