The United States and China want to expand cooperation on climate protection

The declaration states that, in light of the climate crisis, they want to seize this “decisive moment” to accelerate the transition towards a climate-neutral global economy both together and individually. To this end, more ambitious climate protection measures will be taken in this decade. A joint working group will also be established for this purpose.

In addition, the two world powers want to discuss together in the first half of next year how they can reduce methane emissions. To that end, the United States and the European Union already formed a coalition of dozens of countries at the climate conference earlier this week. The goal is to reduce emissions of the second most important greenhouse gas by 30 percent by 2030.

Observers rated China’s current climate protection plans as rather weak. The country does not even want to start cutting greenhouse gas emissions until 2030. Now, the head of the Chinese delegation, Xi Jinhua, also told the Guardian, speaking of former US President Donald Trump: “We are not like some other countries that pulled out of the Paris climate agreement. after negotiations.”

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres welcomed the great powers’ declaration: “The fight against the climate crisis needs international cooperation and solidarity. This is a step in the right direction.”

China did not make any concrete new commitments on climate protection in the declaration, but it promised to improve the 2030 climate protection target submitted to the United Nations, if necessary. The People’s Republic of China has come under heavy criticism because President Xi Jinping did not attend the Heads of State and Government Summit last week, nor did he just make a written statement.

In light of the insufficient public commitments to protect the climate from the 200 or so countries represented in Glasgow, the United States and China have emphasized the importance of closing this gap as soon as possible — “especially as efforts scale up.”