Beijing declines to announce ambitious climate goals ahead of key summit
China is pushing back against calls from the U.S. and other nations to set stronger emissions targets and increase aid for climate impacts ahead of the U.N. Climate Change Conference.
Christian Shepherd and Maxine Joselow report for The Washington Post.
In short:
- China faces mounting international pressure to unveil more ambitious climate goals before the U.N. summit in Baku, including a clearer path to reducing emissions by 2035.
- While the U.S. seeks stronger joint action with China on climate, Chinese leaders insist on independence, highlighting their preference for achievable commitments.
- China remains cautious about contributing to international climate finance, arguing that developed nations bear greater responsibility for past emissions.
Key quote:
“China likes to undercommit and overperform. And if the largest emitter plays it safe, it kind of gives license to everybody else to play it safe.”
— Senior U.S. State Department official
Why this matters:
China’s position could affect global climate action at a pivotal moment. Without clear leadership from the world's top emitters, efforts to curb warming may falter, impacting vulnerable regions that rely on strong, unified action to combat rising seas and extreme weather.
Related: Biden's top climate advisor visits China to push for stronger emission cuts
