China is the largest carbon emitter in the world, followed by the United States. The two countries pump nearly half of the fossil fuels that warm the planet’s atmosphere. Their cooperation is key to the success of global efforts to curb climate change, but weakened ties over human rights, trade and China’s territorial claims to Taiwan and the South China Sea have threatened to undermine such efforts.
Kerry met with reporters in Seoul on Sunday, saying the language in the statement was “strong” and that the two countries agreed on “critical elements about where we should go.” The former Foreign Minister said: ‘I learned in diplomacy that you do not speak the words, but that you take action. We all need to see what happens. ”
Kerry noted that China is the largest coal user in the world, and he and Chinese officials have had many discussions about how to accelerate a global energy transition. “I have never shyed away from expressing our opinion by many, many people that it is essential to reduce coal everywhere,” he said.
Biden invited 40 world leaders, including Chinese President Xi Jinping, to the April 22-23 summit. The US and other countries are expected to announce more ambitious national targets for reducing carbon emissions before or during the meeting, along with financial pledges for climate efforts by less affluent countries.
It is unclear how much Kerry’s visit to China will foster cooperation between the United States and China on climate issues.
While Kerry was still in Shanghai, Chinese Vice Minister Le Yucheng indicated on Friday that China was unlikely to make new promises at next week’s summit.
“For a large country with 1.4 billion people, these goals are not easily achieved,” Le said in an interview with The Associated Press in Beijing. “Some countries are asking China to achieve its goals sooner. I’m afraid it’s not very realistic. ”