The U.S. and China jointly agreed to cooperate on several climate-related issues yesterday at the COP26 climate change summit. 🤝 The declaration comes as a surprise to many, especially considering the extensive history of China-related drama over the last couple of years.
In the declaration, China and the U.S. agree on issues such as cutting CO2 emissions, methane emissions, and deforestation. After U.N. Secretary General António Guterres claimed the objectives of COP26 were “on life support” yesterday, political leaders across the globe now share their relief that China and the U.S. (the two top polluters globally) were able to reach a deal. 🌎
U.N. Secretary General António Guterres tweeted his endorsement of the declaration, and the European Commission’s executive VP Frans Timmermans also approved of the partnership. Timmermans commented “[Climate change] is a challenge which transcends politics. Bilateral cooperation between the two biggest global emitters should boost negotiations at #COP26. Now we must find the global deal that keeps 1.5 degrees alive.”
From the U.S., Genevieve Maricle of the U.S. Climate Policy Action shared “The unexpected and welcome joint declaration between the United States and China represents an important commitment between the world’s two largest emitters of greenhouse gases.”
The Paris Agreement and COP26 hope to minimize global warming below 2 degrees Celsius, preferably 1.5°. 🌡️ Can this agreement keep 1.5° alive?? Time will tell… ⏳