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US envoy John Kerry in Glasgow
Photo: ROBERT PERRY / EPA
With the surprisingly presented agreement for more climate protection in the next few years, China and the USA caused a sensation at the climate conference. Even if the regulation provides for few concrete measures, but rather a recognition of the climate problem, it has received cautious praise. "It can only be good that the US and China are working closely together on climate change and reducing methane gas emissions," said Bernice Lee, research director at the Chatham House think tank, of the world's two largest greenhouse gas emitters. However, the joint declaration by the two countries is not enough.
"The real test for Washington and Beijing is how hard they are pressing here in Glasgow for an agreement in line with the 1.5-degree target," Lee added. In Glasgow, until Friday, almost 200 countries are officially discussing the implementation of the Paris Climate Agreement, which provides for global warming to be limited to well below two, if possible 1.5 degrees compared to the pre-industrial age. According to UN data, the earth is currently heading for a warming of 2.7 degrees even if all national climate protection targets are implemented.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson also welcomed the climate pact and described it as an important stimulus for the negotiations in Glasgow. "This is a boost for negotiations as we move into the final days of COP26 and continue to work to achieve an ambitious outcome for the planet," he shared on Twitter. This is how UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres sees it: “The fight against the climate crisis needs international cooperation and solidarity. And this is a step in the right direction. "
The German Environment State Secretary Jochen Flasbarth called the pact good news. "In order to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees, a rapid race to catch up with climate protection is necessary in this decade," he emphasized. "The necessary progress must come primarily from the largest issuers." At the same time, Flasbarth indicated reluctance to evaluate the agreement. He expressed the hope that China will now also face up to this responsibility and, in cooperation with the USA, will reduce its emissions more sharply. With its long-established cooperation with China on climate protection, Germany will be happy to help ensure that the greenhouse gas savings are really so substantial that the necessary contribution to the 1.5-degree path is made.
EU Vice-President Frans Timmermans said it would mean a lot to the world if the US and China, with all the difficulties they have with each other in other areas, now signal that this issue goes beyond others.
The agreement helps create the right atmosphere in Glasgow for the final negotiations.
However, the negotiators still have "a huge amount of work to do".
This was also confirmed by the British COP26 President, Alok Sharma.
He expressed concern about the number of open financial issues the day before we are due to close.
When it comes to climate finance, the negotiators would find it difficult to come to an agreement even on a few routine technical issues.
"That, my friends, must no longer be the case today," warned Sharma in the conference plenum.
The climate summit has so far been overshadowed by tensions between the two largest CO₂ emitters in the world.
China contributes 27 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, while the US has an 11 percent share.
On Wednesday, a surprise collaboration between the two powers was announced.
The Chinese did not have a specific reduction target by 2030.
The USA announced months ago that it wanted to halve its greenhouse gases by 2030 compared to 2005.
joe / AFP / Reuters / dpa