China, 3 November 2023(TDI): In a pivotal moment for global climate action, top envoys for climate change from China, Xie Zhenhua, and the United States, John Kerry, will engage in high-stakes discussions at the Sunnylands Desert Resort in California from 4 to 7 November.
This meeting is crucial for global climate action, as it comes just before President Xi’s expected visit to the United States.
Points to discuss
The main focus of the talks will be on “enhanced implementation and ambition” to ensure the success of the upcoming 28th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP28), which is scheduled to take place in Dubai from November 30 to December 12 under the leadership of the United Nations.
World leaders and climate negotiators will gather in Dubai to address the escalating climate crisis. The crises include record-shattering temperatures, rising wildfires, and worsening disasters, which are causing mounting concerns about the planet’s future.
As the world’s two largest economies, China and the United States bear significant responsibility for nearly half of global greenhouse gas emissions.
However, the two nations have often found themselves at odds on the international stage.
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One of the key topics of discussion at the upcoming Dubai summit is the establishment of a “loss and damage fund.”
This fund is designed to compensate the world’s poorest nations as they grapple with the consequences of climate change. The fund will shift the focus from mere adaptation to addressing the true cost of climate impacts.
The Biden administration has expressed its support for the fund. They have urged China and other wealthy nations to contribute.
China, the world’s current largest carbon emitter, contends that historical responsibility for emissions rests more heavily on Western countries.
They have emphasized that emerging nations should not be constrained by commitments that never held back the West.
The talks in Sunnylands are expected to play a pivotal role in shaping the course of international climate action. They will bring together two major powers to address one of the most pressing issues of our time.
