Your Monday briefing: US and China restart climate talks

Also, G20 finance ministers prepare to meet in India, China targets Canadian politicians and cricket goes up in Texas.< /p>
ImageJohn Kerry punched Xie Zhenhua in the fist at the UN climate summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt last year. Credit...Nariman El-Mofty/Associated Press
US and China restart climate talks
US climate envoy John Kerry arrived in Beijing yesterday to relaunch climate talks with China. During three days of talks, he and Xie Zhenhua, his Chinese counterpart, will seek ways to collaborate, despite the simmering tensions.
China and the United States are the two biggest fossil fuel polluters, combining to spew about 40 percent of greenhouse gases. How quickly they reduce emissions and help other nations transition to clean energy will determine whether the planet can avoid the most catastrophic consequences of climate change, analysts say.
Kerry wants to talk about three main issues:
Methane: The potent greenhouse gas that leaks from oil and gas wells.
Deforestation: remains high globally, despite international pledges.
Coal consumption in China: The country's greenhouse gas emissions increased in 2021 at the fastest rate in a decade. Kerry wants to push Beijing to phase out coal power.
Dude...

World Jul 17, 2023 0 45 Add to Reading List

Your Monday briefing: US and China restart climate talks

Also, G20 finance ministers prepare to meet in India, China targets Canadian politicians and cricket goes up in Texas.< /p>

John Kerry kicks punches his smiling Chinese counterpart on stage at the 2022 UN climate talks. articleLarge.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale

US and China restart climate talks

US climate envoy John Kerry arrived in Beijing yesterday to relaunch climate talks with China. During three days of talks, he and Xie Zhenhua, his Chinese counterpart, will seek ways to collaborate, despite the simmering tensions.

China and the United States are the two biggest fossil fuel polluters, combining to spew about 40 percent of greenhouse gases. How quickly they reduce emissions and help other nations transition to clean energy will determine whether the planet can avoid the most catastrophic consequences of climate change, analysts say.

Kerry wants to talk about three main issues:

Methane: The potent greenhouse gas that leaks from oil and gas wells.

Deforestation: remains high globally, despite international pledges.

Coal consumption in China: The country's greenhouse gas emissions increased in 2021 at the fastest rate in a decade. Kerry wants to push Beijing to phase out coal power.

Dude...