China hopes U.S. will continue climate change collaboration whoever wins election, official says

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China hopes that no matter the outcome of next week’s presidential election, the United States will be able to continue to cooperate with other countries on climate change, a senior government official said on Friday (November 1, 2024).

Cooperation between China and the United States, the world’s top two emitters of climate-warming greenhouse gases, has helped seal major climate deals, including the 2015 Paris Agreement.

But former President Donald Trump’s re-election could end bilateral climate engagement between the two parties, with Mr Trump likely to pull the United States out of the Paris Agreement for a second time.

“We hope the US can maintain the stability and consistency of its climate policy, and we hope it can work with other countries globally,” Xia Yingxian, director general of the climate office at China’s environment ministry, said during a briefing. “Can continue to do so.”

With COP29 climate talks set to begin in Baku, Azerbaijan, in 10 days, Mr Zia told reporters he hoped the meeting would send a positive signal that “multilateralism cannot be reversed and international cooperation is inevitable.” As part of their obligations under the Paris Agreement, countries must submit new and more ambitious “Nationally Determined Contributions” (NDCs) to the UN by February next year. Washington is pressuring Beijing to cut emissions 30% by 2035, but experts have warned that America’s clout in climate diplomacy would be significantly diminished if Trump wins next week.

Mr. While China has promised to peak carbon dioxide emissions “before 2030” and become carbon neutral by 2060, researchers say it is capable of greater ambition, with CO2 likely already in decline.

But although China has “made significant progress”, energy demand is still growing and green trade barriers are hindering progress, said Wen Hua, deputy director of the environmental protection office at China’s planning agency, the National Development and Reform Commission. Gave warning.

“It must be stated that Carbon apogee and carbon neutrality targets Herculean efforts are required,” he told Friday’s briefing.

Last month, an influential Chinese state think tank called on the government to set an absolute level reduction target of carbon emissions by 2035.

The China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development (CCICED) has also recommended the government to double the total wind and solar capacity to 2,400 gigawatts (GW) by 2030.