China, US vow to work together on climate issues, but American election may alter path
07:25
Cop28 prepares temperature check on climate at Dubai meeting
In readouts issued by both sides separately on Sunday but similarly worded, Beijing and Washington “reaffirmed their intention to jointly host” a summit to tackle methane and other non-CO2 gases at the Cop29 United Nations climate talks in Baku, Azerbaijan, in November.
Podesta and Liu also agreed to “further strengthening dialogue, collaborative efforts” to help make Cop29 a success and “to enforce their respective laws on banning illegal imports, and promote global forest conservation and sustainable management,” the readouts said.
Li Shuo, director of China Climate Hub at the Asia Society Policy Institute (ASPI), said that while talks between the world’s two largest greenhouse gas emitters climate dialogue were important, expectations were low for the visit, largely because of the US elections. In November, Americans will go to the polls to vote for their next president.
“As expected, there was no major shift in position, but some mutual understanding on finance and [emissions of] non-CO2 gases,” he said. “The overall sense is positive and the two sides wanted to keep climate engagement.”