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Before the start of the highly anticipated climate summit, both the United States and China have made a commitment to address the urgent issue of climate change by forming a working group. As the world’s two largest polluters, this collaboration between China and the United States signifies a crucial step towards tackling the climate crisis.
The meeting between Joe Biden, the vice president of the United States, and Xi Jinping, the president of China, took place on the outskirts of the G20 summit held in Bali, Indonesia. The discussions were centered around climate cooperation and efforts to increase renewable energy production.
Following the meeting, the governments of both countries officially confirmed the revival of the climate cooperation working group and their commitment to significantly increase renewable energy production. The announcement was made just before a scheduled meeting between the heads of state in San Francisco. This move highlights the joint efforts by China and the United States to bridge their differences and address the pressing climate crisis.
Cooperation on climate change has been recognized as a positive aspect of the relationship between the United States and China, which has otherwise been tense in areas such as trade, technology, human rights, and geopolitics.
Separate statements were released by the U.S. Department of State and China’s Ministry of Ecology and the Environment following meetings between U.S. climate envoy John Kerry and Chinese counterpart Xie Zhenhua. These discussions took place in California earlier this month and were preceded by a meeting in Beijing. The statements outlined the commitment of both countries to establish a functional working group that will engage in dialogue and cooperation to implement concrete climate actions this decade. The idea of a working group was initially proposed by Kerry and Xi at the United Nations climate summit in Glasgow in 2021 but had been on hold since August of the previous year.
China, being one of the largest emitters of greenhouse gases, has pledged to reduce emissions in the face of the ongoing climate crisis by following its own path. The joint declaration also emphasized the significant increase in renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar power, as well as battery storage to manage the energy sectors of both countries. The intent is to replace fossil fuels like coal, petroleum, and natural gas, which contribute to global warming.
To expedite the transition away from coal, petroleum, and natural gas, China and the United States have agreed to accelerate the installation of renewable energy in their respective economies by the end of 2030. Furthermore, both nations have expressed support for global efforts to triple renewable energy capacity by 2030 and aim to significantly reduce emissions from their energy sectors within this decade.
Both countries have also committed to reducing their overall greenhouse gas emissions by 2035 as part of their international climate commitments. This includes addressing gases like carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). The agreement is intended to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, a threshold beyond which scientists warn that adapting to climate change impacts like heat waves and droughts will become increasingly challenging for humans and other organisms.
Remarkably, China’s declaration marks the first time the country has publicly expressed its intention to limit greenhouse gas emissions beyond carbon dioxide, according to a Chinese academic based in Beijing who spoke on the condition of anonymity. This shift reflects the practical approach both sides are taking amidst the current political climate.
While China has made promises to significantly increase its use of renewable energy sources, it has not yet provided clear statements regarding the phase-out of coal, which is the most polluting fossil fuel.
This joint announcement comes just three weeks before the United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP28, which will be held in Dubai this year. The outcome and success of the conference will depend, to a large extent, on the cooperation between the world’s two largest emitters.
“The declaration is a timely effort to align the United States and China before COP28, as their participation is a pre-condition for substantial global progress,” commented Li Shuo, the director of the China Climate Hub at the Institute of Asian Social Policy. However, he emphasized that this agreement between the United States and China is only the groundwork and does not determine the overall tone of the conference, which remains the responsibility of COP28.
When the two countries come together at the conference in the United Arab Emirates, their negotiations will undoubtedly contribute to stabilizing the political situation. However, pressing issues such as the phase-out of fossil fuels will require significant political effort. Li further suggested that China should be mindful of other ambitious proposals that might be raised during COP28. “Stopping the approval of new energy projects would be a good next step,” he added.
In conclusion, the commitment made by the United States and China to establish a climate cooperation working group and increase renewable energy production marks a significant turning point in the international fight against climate change. Their cooperation signals the importance of addressing the climate crisis as a global effort, and their joint efforts are likely to shape the discussions and outcomes of the upcoming COP28 conference.
