China and the United States have set out new plans for further climate change collaboration as envoys from both nations concluded a pivotal two-day meeting in Washington, D.C., which wrapped up on Thursday.
The meeting was co-chaired by China’s special envoy for climate change, Liu Zhenmin, and U.S. special presidential envoy for climate, John Podesta. Commitments were made to deploy emission reduction technologies, establish or enhance monitoring, reporting, and verification systems and standards, and promote bilateral cooperation and capacity building.
Technical cooperation on non-CO2 greenhouse gases was a key focus, particularly addressing industrial nitrous oxide and precursor substances for tropospheric ozone. Such gases are significant contributors to global warming, and tackling them is crucial for achieving international climate targets.
The discussions reflected on the outcomes of the summit between the Chinese and U.S. presidents in San Francisco last year, revisiting areas outlined in the “Sunshine Declaration on Strengthening Cooperation to Address the Climate Crisis.” Key topics included energy transition, methane reduction, circular economy and resource efficiency, deforestation, and initiatives in low-carbon provinces, states, and cities.
This renewed dialogue signifies a strengthening of China-U.S. relations in the fight against climate change, underscoring the importance of joint efforts by the world’s two largest economies to address global environmental challenges.
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China, U.S. set out plans for further climate change collaboration
cgtn.com