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After Months of Silence, Chinese and U.S. Climate Envoys Briefly Speak After Months of Silence, Chinese and U.S. Climate Envoys Briefly Speak
(2 days later)
Follow our live coverage of the COP27 Climate Summit in Egypt.
SHARM EL SHEIKH, Egypt — A frosty, monthslong pause in dialogue between China and the United States on climate issues appeared to thaw ever so slightly this week at the United Nations climate summit, known as COP27, in this Red Sea resort town.SHARM EL SHEIKH, Egypt — A frosty, monthslong pause in dialogue between China and the United States on climate issues appeared to thaw ever so slightly this week at the United Nations climate summit, known as COP27, in this Red Sea resort town.
John Kerry, the U.S. special envoy for climate change, confirmed that he had met with his Chinese counterpart, Xie Zhenhua — the only breakthrough, albeit a small one, since China suspended climate talks with President Biden’s administration in early August after Speaker Nancy Pelosi traveled to Taiwan over China’s objections.John Kerry, the U.S. special envoy for climate change, confirmed that he had met with his Chinese counterpart, Xie Zhenhua — the only breakthrough, albeit a small one, since China suspended climate talks with President Biden’s administration in early August after Speaker Nancy Pelosi traveled to Taiwan over China’s objections.
“We’ve had some informal talks, but we’re not in any formal negotiations,” Mr. Kerry said at an event on the sidelines of the summit. “I stand ready to negotiate.”“We’ve had some informal talks, but we’re not in any formal negotiations,” Mr. Kerry said at an event on the sidelines of the summit. “I stand ready to negotiate.”
Mr. Kerry and Mr. Xie have met at least three times since Sunday, including on the sidelines of a main hall where world leaders have given speeches and in a V.I.P. room nearby, according to a person familiar with their discussions who was not authorized to speak about them.Mr. Kerry and Mr. Xie have met at least three times since Sunday, including on the sidelines of a main hall where world leaders have given speeches and in a V.I.P. room nearby, according to a person familiar with their discussions who was not authorized to speak about them.
China and the United States are the world’s two biggest emitters of greenhouse gases, and their climate policies have an outsize impact on the future of the global climate.China and the United States are the world’s two biggest emitters of greenhouse gases, and their climate policies have an outsize impact on the future of the global climate.
Mr. Kerry, who has known Mr. Xie for 20 years, has said he spent the summer and fall emailing Mr. Xie without much response.Mr. Kerry, who has known Mr. Xie for 20 years, has said he spent the summer and fall emailing Mr. Xie without much response.
While Mr. Kerry has been quick to point out that climate change demands a collective response from all nations because it poses a “global threat to the planet,” he said it was important that the United States and China work in concert on efforts to limit warming to relatively safe levels.While Mr. Kerry has been quick to point out that climate change demands a collective response from all nations because it poses a “global threat to the planet,” he said it was important that the United States and China work in concert on efforts to limit warming to relatively safe levels.
“We were poised to deploy a major negotiating session” at the summit, Mr. Kerry said, adding that it would have aimed to tackle important issues like China’s high level of emissions of methane, a potent greenhouse gas, as well as China’s role in deforestation as a hub for the sale of illegally logged timber.“We were poised to deploy a major negotiating session” at the summit, Mr. Kerry said, adding that it would have aimed to tackle important issues like China’s high level of emissions of methane, a potent greenhouse gas, as well as China’s role in deforestation as a hub for the sale of illegally logged timber.
“Regrettably, that got interrupted,” Mr. Kerry said, but added that he was still hopeful the summit could create room for further talks. “We’ll see what happens in the next few days.”“Regrettably, that got interrupted,” Mr. Kerry said, but added that he was still hopeful the summit could create room for further talks. “We’ll see what happens in the next few days.”
On Wednesday, Reuters reported that Mr. Xie had said China supported an idea that has been gaining ground — that rich, polluting nations pay developing countries for loss and damage caused by climate change.On Wednesday, Reuters reported that Mr. Xie had said China supported an idea that has been gaining ground — that rich, polluting nations pay developing countries for loss and damage caused by climate change.
Poor countries have been demanding that compensation, arguing that they contribute relatively little to the pollution that is heating the planet but suffer disproportionately. China, which is considered a developing country by the United Nations, would not contribute to such a fund, Qian Zhang, a representative of the Chinese delegation, said.Poor countries have been demanding that compensation, arguing that they contribute relatively little to the pollution that is heating the planet but suffer disproportionately. China, which is considered a developing country by the United Nations, would not contribute to such a fund, Qian Zhang, a representative of the Chinese delegation, said.
For decades, wealthy nations, which have emitted half of all heat-trapping gasses since 1850, have avoided calls to help poor countries recover from climate disasters, fearing that doing so could open them to unlimited liability. And, as a legal and a practical matter, it has been extraordinarily difficult to define “loss and damage” and determine what it might cost and who should pay how much.For decades, wealthy nations, which have emitted half of all heat-trapping gasses since 1850, have avoided calls to help poor countries recover from climate disasters, fearing that doing so could open them to unlimited liability. And, as a legal and a practical matter, it has been extraordinarily difficult to define “loss and damage” and determine what it might cost and who should pay how much.
But at the summit this week, several European countries, including Scotland, Ireland, Austria, Belgium and Denmark, have promised specific contributions to such a fund, while the president of the European Union endorsed the idea. The United States says it is willing to discuss such a plan but has made no commitment to funding it.But at the summit this week, several European countries, including Scotland, Ireland, Austria, Belgium and Denmark, have promised specific contributions to such a fund, while the president of the European Union endorsed the idea. The United States says it is willing to discuss such a plan but has made no commitment to funding it.
Mr. Kerry, 78, and Mr. Xie, 73, both came out of retirement to take on their countries’ top climate positions, and have worked together on some of the defining international policy breakthroughs of the last decade.Mr. Kerry, 78, and Mr. Xie, 73, both came out of retirement to take on their countries’ top climate positions, and have worked together on some of the defining international policy breakthroughs of the last decade.
At last year’s U.N. climate summit in Glasgow, they worked together to announce that both of their countries would do more to cut the greenhouse gases from burning oil, gas and coal that are driving climate change. The terms of the deal weren’t groundbreaking, but it was a signal to other nations to step up their ambitions.At last year’s U.N. climate summit in Glasgow, they worked together to announce that both of their countries would do more to cut the greenhouse gases from burning oil, gas and coal that are driving climate change. The terms of the deal weren’t groundbreaking, but it was a signal to other nations to step up their ambitions.
President Xi Jinping of China is not at the summit in Egypt, while Mr. Biden is scheduled to visit the gathering for just a few hours on Friday. But both men are expected to attend the Group of 20 meeting in Bali, Indonesia, next week, and Mr. Kerry said that Mr. Biden hoped to raise the issue of climate change with Mr. Xi there.President Xi Jinping of China is not at the summit in Egypt, while Mr. Biden is scheduled to visit the gathering for just a few hours on Friday. But both men are expected to attend the Group of 20 meeting in Bali, Indonesia, next week, and Mr. Kerry said that Mr. Biden hoped to raise the issue of climate change with Mr. Xi there.
“It is conceivable that when they meet in Bali, something may break through,” Mr. Kerry said.“It is conceivable that when they meet in Bali, something may break through,” Mr. Kerry said.