China-US Climate Change Cooperation

The two biggest polluters of the world China and US have agreed to work together in tackling climate change issues. They recently issued a joint statement that they will work together to uphold Paris Agreement. The announcement comes days before the Earth Day Leaders Summit.
The announcement was made after Kerry, the former US Secretary met China’s special envoy for Climate Change. Kerry is the first official to visit China from President Biden’s administration.

Earth Day Leaders Summit

The US President Joe Biden has invited forty world leaders including PM Modi and President Xi Jing Ping to the World Leaders Summit on Climate. The summit is to be held on World Earth Day, that is on April 22.

Nationally Determined Targets of China

China had set NDC targets to be achieved by 2020 and also by 2030. They were as follows:

• To reduce the share of non-fossil fuels between 60% and 65% by 2030 as compared to 2005. As of 2019, China has achieved 48.1%
• To increase forest volume by 4.5 billion cubic metres by 2030 and 6 billion cubic metres by 2020 as compared to the level of 2005. As of 2019, the country increased its forest cover by 5.1 billion cubic metres as compared to that of 2005.
• The wind and solar power generating capacity was to be increased by 1,200 GW by 2030.

In December 2020, the Chinese President Xi Jingping announced new 2030 Climate Targets. They were as follows:

• To increase solar power generating capacity to 1,200 GW by 2030.
• To aim for Carbon Neutrality by 2060.

Nationally Determined Contributions of the US

• To reduce Green house gas emissions by 26% to 28% by 2025 as compared to that of 2005.

US had withdrawn from the Paris Agreement in 2020.

Month: Current Affairs - April, 2021