China and the United States, the two largest carbon polluters in the world, are meeting in Beijing this week to discuss cooperation on climate change amidst ongoing disputes over trade and security. The outcome of these discussions is crucial for global efforts to combat global warming and keep temperatures within the target of 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. In the past, agreements between these two countries have inspired other nations to set more ambitious climate targets.
One of the key areas of debate is climate funding. Wealthier countries, including the US, provide financial aid to poorer nations to support their transition to clean energy and adapt to the impacts of climate change. China, as a rapidly growing economy with increasing emissions, has faced calls to contribute to these climate funds. However, it argues that it should be classified as a developing country under the 1992 agreement, which would exempt it from such obligations. While China has launched its own climate finance initiatives, the actual delivery of funds has been limited.
Another area of potential cooperation is in tackling methane emissions, a potent greenhouse gas responsible for about 30% of global warming. The US and China have previously agreed to work together on measuring methane emissions, and they are expected to expand this cooperation. Technological advancements, such as satellite-based detection, offer opportunities for collaboration. The US hopes that China will announce its domestic plans to address methane emissions before the next UN climate conference in December.
US tariffs on Chinese solar panels, imposed in 2018 by the Trump administration, have been a contentious issue. The Biden administration has temporarily paused these tariffs and blocked shipments from the Xinjiang region due to concerns about forced labor. China argues that these tariffs hinder the global shift to clean energy and should be removed. The issue is not likely to be resolved during the talks but will remain a topic of discussion.
Coal consumption is another area of concern. While China has pledged to start reducing coal consumption by 2026, it has continued to approve new coal power projects. The US, as the top oil and gas producer, has also faced criticism for its fossil fuel exports. The build-out of coal plants in China could undermine its progress in renewable energy deployment, according to US Special Envoy on Climate Change John Kerry.
China’s dominance in the electric vehicle battery supply chain is another point of tension. The US has raised concerns about battery imports and canceled a grant to a Chinese company. However, both countries could explore opportunities to share knowledge on battery technologies.
Finally, there is a divergence in temperature goals between China and the US. While the Paris Agreement set a goal of keeping global warming “well below 2 degrees Celsius,” the U.N. climate summit in Glasgow in 2021 established a more ambitious target of 1.5 degrees Celsius. China still refers to the 2-degree target, while the US and other countries prioritize the 1.5-degree goal. This difference in temperature goals is likely to be a point of contention as countries strengthen their efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Overall, the outcome of the discussions between China and the US will have significant implications for global climate action. Cooperation in areas such as climate funding, methane emissions, solar tariffs, coal consumption, battery technology, and alignment of temperature goals is crucial for addressing the urgent challenges of climate change.
Original Story at www.reuters.com – 2023-07-18 03:14:07
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