John Kerry Optimistic as the World’s Top Polluters Find Common Ground
In a significant development, the United States and China have reached several agreements on climate issues in preparation for the upcoming COP28 Summit in Dubai, according to statements from John Kerry, Washington’s climate envoy. The announcements come after four days of intense talks between Kerry and his Chinese counterpart Xie Zhenhua in California, setting the stage for potential breakthroughs in the global effort to combat climate change.
Speaking at a business summit in Singapore, Kerry expressed satisfaction with the outcomes of the discussions, labeling them as “very successful.” While specific details of the agreements were not immediately disclosed, Kerry assured that they would be revealed “at the appropriate moment soon.” The collaboration between the world’s two largest polluters is seen as pivotal for achieving consensus at COP28.
Describing the meetings as tough and serious, Kerry dismissed the notion that US climate policies and technologies are “anti-China.” In response to questions, he emphasized that like any other country, China stands to benefit from new technologies, and the global community needs to collectively accelerate progress in addressing climate change. Kerry clarified, “Every country, I’ve heard from Germany and France, and other countries, do the same thing. We need to all move faster.”
The COP28 Summit, scheduled from November 30 to December 12, aims to uphold the commitment made by nearly 200 countries in Paris in 2015 to limit long-term global temperature rises to 1.5°C. The agreements between the US and China are anticipated to play a crucial role in advancing this goal.
Key topics to be discussed in Dubai include the establishment of a fund to compensate the poorest nations grappling with the impacts of climate change. This fund has been a source of contention, with the US and some other developed countries expressing reservations and advocating for limitations on access, particularly for the most vulnerable countries not covered by existing development banks and relief funds.
As the world awaits further details on the US-China agreements, optimism is growing that the collaboration between these major powers will contribute significantly to the success of COP28 and the ongoing global efforts to address the pressing challenges of climate change.
