President Biden’s climate envoy, John Kerry, traveled to Beijing this week in hopes of persuading officials there to start reducing China’s carbon emissions on a faster timeline.
But after three days of talks, Kerry emerged today without any new agreements.
In fact, the Chinese president, Xi Jinping, insisted in a speech that China would pursue its goals to phase out carbon dioxide pollution at its own pace and in its own way.
Xi’s comments — which reiterated his plan to make China carbon neutral by 2060, but rejected outside influence — suggested that tensions between the U.S. and China were making it difficult to work together on a crisis that threatens the planet.
Still, Kerry insisted he was not disappointed in the outcome, noting that just talking showed progress.
Persons:
Biden’s, John Kerry, Kerry, Xi Jinping, —, ”
Organizations:
U.S
Locations:
Beijing, China