Climate envoy John Podesta to discuss climate change with China as U.S. pushes for more ambitious targets
In a move to address climate change issues, U.S. climate envoy John Podesta is set to visit China for three days starting Wednesday. The talks will focus on bridging gaps on issues such as finance between the world's two biggest emitters of greenhouse gas.
Despite the importance of pacts between the two countries in the fight against climate change, analysts are not expecting significant progress from this week's discussions. Podesta is scheduled to meet with Chinese counterpart Liu Zhenmin in the second round of formal climate talks since taking over as senior envoy.
The United States is urging China to set more ambitious climate targets as the deadline approaches for countries to submit new contributions to the United Nations. Washington is also pushing for China's participation in the New Collective Quantified Goal, a climate finance program aimed at helping developing countries enhance their climate ambitions.
However, China has resisted pressure from advanced economies to require contributions from emerging economies, with the BASIC bloc of countries criticizing calls to broaden the fund's contributor base as an attempt to dilute obligations.
It is crucial for China to reduce emissions by at least 30% by 2035 to align with the Paris Agreement's goal of limiting temperature rises to 1.5 degrees Celsius. Research indicates that Beijing's emissions are expected to peak earlier than its pledged date of "before 2030," providing an opportunity for substantial cuts by 2035.
In summary, the discussions between the U.S. and China on climate change are significant for global efforts to combat the climate crisis. The outcome of these talks could impact the strategies and commitments of both countries in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and achieving the goals set by the Paris Agreement. Staying informed about these developments is essential for individuals and businesses looking to understand the implications for their lives and finances in the context of a changing climate landscape.