The US and China say they are committed to working together and even with other countries to tackle climate change.
It comes after several meetings between the US climate envoy John Kerry and his Chinese complement Zie Zhenhua in Shanghai.
In the meeting last week, they both agreed on specific actions to reduce emissions, a joint statement on Sunday confirmed.
US president Joe Biden is holding a virtual climate summit this week, which China is looking forward to.
However, it’s unknown if the Chinese president Xi Jinping will join the other world leaders who have pledged to attend.
The US and China have pledged to cooperate with each other and with other countries. It would be to tackle the climate crisis. Which must be addressed with the gravity and necessity it demands, the statement said.
It added that both the countries would continue to discuss concrete actions in the 2020s to reduce emissions. It aimed at keeping the Paris agreement aligned temperature limit within reach.
Both nations also agreed to help emerging countries finance a switch to low carbon energy.
Senior climate advisor for environmental group Greenpeace Li Shuo described the statement as positive.
It sends a very unmistakable message that on this particular issue, the States and China would cooperate. Before the gatherings in Shanghai, this was not a message we could assume, said Mr Li to Reuters news agency.
The joint statement issued symbolically at a round table will relieve anyone concerned about the planet. It simply won’t be able to stabilize climate change unless superpower super polluters pull much harder.
How China can reach its climate pledges?
A recent report said China, for instance, must close down 588 coal-fired power plants to reach its climate pledges.
Is China heading in the right direction of coal? No, its regional governor has been building even more coal plants to stimulate the economy.
One outcome from the US-China meeting is fessing financial flows towards low-carbon projects, not high carbon. Both sides have also promised plans for reducing their won emissions further. President Biden will unveil its proposals before or at the US summit this coming week.
President Xi is playing coy over whether he’ll attend the summit or give it a rain check. Instead, he may declare Chinese targets at the Boao forum also this week. Boao is a forum for the Chinese government and business leaders.
