US and China announce joint efforts to cut carbon emissions | DW News

The surprise climate pact from the world's biggest polluters signals political willingness — but is light on details China's climate envoy announced a deal on Wednesday to boost cooperation with the United States to combat the climate crisis. The announcement came as negotiations at the UN climate conference approached their conclusion, with the goal of securing final pledges before it wraps up on Friday. It also comes after US President Joe Biden criticized Chinese President Xi Jinping for not making an appearance at the UN climate conference in Glasgow. The US and China are the world's top two greenhouse gas emitters — accounting for around 40% of global emissions.

What did Beijing and Washington agree?
China's climate envoy Xie Zhenhua said the plan would involve "concrete plans" for enhanced action this decade and a willingness for the US and China to talk about the "finalization of the Paris Agreement rulebook." The Paris Climate Agreement dates back to COP21, which was held in 2016 in Paris.

The joint statement itself is less clear with concrete details, but carries more political significance as the two economic rivals pledged to put aside differences to tackle climate change. The agreement does, however, contain a specific focus on curbing methane emissions. Beijing and Washington have also agreed to meet regularly to address climate issues and both "recognize the seriousness and urgency of the climate crisis. The US has set a goal to reach "100% carbon pollution-free electricity" by the year 2035. China, meanwhile pledged to "phase down" coal consumption.

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[paulxu]

India: beg you again for calling me superpower pls

[davidT.C]

DW: China and US cooperate to reduce carbon emissions
DW: also highlights all china’s faults on coal not even a little criticism on the US another contributor
The irony 😂

[shihtzuview]

Population should be considered - per capita. It is unfair to demand a country with 1 billion population to emit same amount CO2 as a country with 1 million population.

Developed countries should do lot more than developing countries because developed countries have emitted a lot more.

[jeffreyfugh]

A huge chunk of China's emissions is attributable to manufacturing goods for export. That is why many rich countries might appear to be light emitters on paper but actually emit a lot more by importing Made in China.

[wilg]

When you blame China using too much coal, please think to stop or buy less things from China. The cheap products are made with cheap energy and cheap labour as well....buy less and buy better for all....

[garysantos]

Germany: Coal tops wind as a primary electricity source

In the first half of 2021, coal shot up as the biggest contributor to Germany's electric grid, while wind power dropped to its lowest level since 2018. Officials say the weather is partly to blame.

Despite efforts to boost renewable energy sources, coal unseated wind power as the biggest energy contributor to the German network in the first six months of 2021, according to official statistics released on Monday.

–DW News

[TabithaTabCat]

5% to fixing the problem, 95% to making the rich richer

[simonjames]

US have 5x more CO2 emissions per capita.

[singularityagi]

Hope this marks a start of the end of confrontation

[Dr.Gehrig]

Carbon capture is no substitute for cutting emissions. We have everything we need to cut over 90% of those emissions and that less than 10% gap narrows every day. Carbon capture does have a part to play, but no one should ever assume or act like it allows us to continue emitting. Carbon capture is typically slow and energy intensive. It's something we will likely be doing for decades at least AFTER we have stopped our emissions to try to pull things back to normal, if we are successful in addressing climate change in time that is. Again, yes these technologies are good and useful, but they are not a license to emit.

[Dash]

Nice to see two of the countries that found cutting out coal too much of a bother agreeing to keep up the pretense of actually caring about the planet more than their wallets together

[italianlifestyle]

Hoping this 'miracle' will really happen...

[TheBumbleCheese]

10.11.2021: China builds US carrier mockup for military drills
11.11.2021: US and China cooperating

what is happening here :D

[jimwong]

Cooperated USA China should be win-win.

[Johnnykgb-nsa]

Before I retired year's back, I was very surprised to see power plants inside the US changing over to natural gas fired, and more lately with some solar and wind. We still have a long way to go.

[rondewitt]

Never, never judge China by its promises...only by its actions...a tree will be known by its fruit

[shivam_nagar]

I love how western media covered the india's target😂 i wants to see the result. If you didn't achieved the target i am gonna laugh at you and not only me every indian actually because when India sets target you all try to defame. Gotta see the results😂

[DathWng]

Deals, conferences, statements, promises, but no action and accountability ... smh

[SnowBalling]

China needs to find more environmentally friendly ways to manufacturer.

[MysticalJessica]

What they say is not important, what they do is and they're not doing what they're saying!