At the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28), Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and appointed President of the climate conference, announced an “unprecedented” climate commitment by China and the United States.
This commitment involves reducing methane and other non-carbon dioxide gases across entire economies. “These gases are over 80 times more harmful than carbon dioxide,” said Al Jaber during a press conference at COP28.
This development signifies an acceleration in climate action and a beacon of hope for broader agreements between the two largest economies, both in terms of economic scale and emissions, being the world’s largest polluters.
This “unprecedented” agreement adds a new highlight to the series of “victories” achieved at the climate conference hosted in the United Arab Emirates. The conference has made significant progress in several climate-related areas, including financial pledges announced by various countries.
US Special Envoy for Climate, John Kerry, confirmed that the United States and China reached “understandings and agreements” on climate issues that would help ensure progress in the United Nations climate change talks at COP28. This followed his meeting with his Chinese counterpart Xie Zhenhua in Sunnylands, California, last month.
Al Jaber expressed optimism and hope during a press conference on Monday, stating that the efforts at COP28 had led to an unprecedented climate commitment from China and the United States. “This is our chance to make a real and tangible shift that can correct our course and keep the 1.5 degrees Celsius goal within reach,” he said.
The US and China have recently engaged in direct talks to thaw relations between the two countries, including discussions on climate issues and their stance on key dossiers.
Besides the two summits between US President Joe Biden and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping aimed at regulating bilateral relations, there have been various discussions at different levels between US and Chinese officials, including UN Climate Envoy John Kerry, who met his counterparts in Beijing to reach understandings on climate matters.
