Many people criticized the Chinese President when he chose not to attend COP26. However USA and China have announced they have reached agreement on a climate initiative. Is there now a meaningful USA and China climate agreement?
Speaking at COP26, John Kerry announced the surprise agreement that the two countries would work together to limit methane. Kerry pointed out that methane is times more destructive than CO2. So what is this agreement between USA and China, and should we all celebrate?
The two sides have agreed to meet regularly to establish a “Working Group on Enhancing Climate Action in the 2020s”. The stated aims of the combined climate plan state:
- Intend to develop respective long-term strategies aimed at net zero emissions.
- Plan to invest in green energy in developing countries.
- Will continue to discuss policies, measures and technologies to decarbonize industry and power.
- Will cooperate on renewable energy, resilient agriculture, emissions of methane etc.
Any progress is to be welcomed but climate activists point out that speed is now important. Constant talking is not going to address the problem unless it leads to actual action.
The UN Secretary General emphasized that in order to meet the target of limiting temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius in the next 10 years that globally we must reduce emissions by 45% by 2030.
Some commentators view the Chinese agreement with some scepticism. China is the largest contributor to the emission problem. The world will watch and see whether any real progress comes out of the meetings.
