ENB- The US and China have reached a new agreement on measures to tackle climate change, a joint statement declared on Thursday.
However, the agreement did not include committing to end fossil fuels.
The world’s biggest carbon emitters will step up cooperation on methane and support global efforts to triple renewable energy by 2030.
But the document is silent on the use of coal, and the future of fossil energy.
Observers said it was a positive sign ahead of a UN climate summit.
The joint statement comes as the presidents of both countries prepare to meet in California, with climate change representing one of the few areas of potential progress.
For over a year US diplomats have been trying to find a way forward with China. This came after Beijing suspended climate talks after the visit of US Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan.
Commitment to a global tripling
Last week, those efforts saw US climate envoy John Kerry meet with his Chinese counterpart, Xie Zhenhua, for three days of negotiations. The talks led to this agreed-upon position.
Both countries reaffirmed their commitment to a global tripling of renewable energy this decade, as previously agreed at this year’s G20 meeting in India.
Both also stated that there would be “meaningful absolute power sector emission reductions” by 2030.
However, a reduction in the use of coal isn’t mentioned in the document. There’s no discussion of the ending of fossil fuels, something that the president of the UN climate conference, known as COP28, has said is a key focus for the meeting.
“It’s small but important steps on climate change,” said Bernice Lee, a distinguished Fellow at Chatham House.
“But progress on fossil fuels wasn’t what I expected to see, as they both have constraints,” she told BBC News.
“My suspicion is that it has proven to be too difficult to find the form of language that works for both. But nonetheless, I think it’s good that they have a statement that’s focused on the things they agree on, which is, obviously, the renewables and methane.”
