The United States and China, the world’s two largest climate polluters, have agreed to work together to combat global warming by increasing the use of renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power. This announcement comes ahead of President Biden’s meeting with President Xi Jinping of China, which will focus on various topics including climate change. Although the statements of cooperation do not include a commitment from China to phase out coal, both countries have agreed to triple global renewable energy capacity by 2030 and reduce emissions in the power sector. This marks the first time China has agreed to cut emissions in any part of its economy. The agreement is seen as a positive development in the lead-up to the United Nations climate talks known as COP28. Additionally, China has agreed to set reduction targets for all greenhouse gas emissions, including methane. The deal is the result of negotiations between climate envoys John Kerry and Xie Zhenhua, who have been advocating for climate cooperation between their countries. The United States and China have a significant role to play in global efforts to phase out fossil fuels, and their willingness to take action will be crucial in limiting global temperature increases. However, both countries have concerns about each other’s commitments and the ability to sustain climate action in the future.
