President Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping ratified a sweeping agreement to curb carbon emissions, accelerating the path toward implementation of the 200-nation accord that the world leaders hope to achieve by the end of the year. The papers certified the USA and China have taken the necessary steps to join the Paris accord that set nation-by-nation targets for cutting carbon emissions.
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“I urge all leaders, particularly G20 countries, to accelerate their domestic ratification processes so we can turn the aspirations of Paris into the transformative climate action the world so urgently needs”, Mr. Ban said.
All parties at the summit should work to build an innovative and open world economy to generate new drivers of growth and expand the scope of development, Xi said in a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of Business 20 summit in the eastern Chinese city of Hangzhou.
Two-way trade, investment and personnel exchanges are at historical highs, he said, and both countries have worked together in combating climate change, advancing negotiations on a bilateral investment treaty, and establishing a mutual trust mechanism between the two militaries.
Beijing, US President Barack Obama arrived in the Chinese city of Hangzhou on Saturday for the upcoming G20 summit on his 11th tour of Asia before his term expires.
The remarks were an apparent effort to counter claims that China has dragged its feet on reform and become more hostile to foreign businesses since Xi came to power more than three years ago.
Beyond economics, there may be friction over territorial disputes in the South China Sea and a US-South Korea decision to deploy a missile defence system in South Korea to counter missile and nuclear threats from North Korea.
In addition, the two leaders agreed to coordinate the New Chinese Silk Road Initiative with Turkey’s development strategy, and analyzed how to improve cooperation in the infrastructure and energy sectors, for which the two countries, which are celebrating 45 years of bilateral relations in 2016, signed agreements. China and the United States together are responsible for around 40 per cent of the world’s emissions so their ratification of the global legal document is viewed crucial.
Meeting Xi after the climate announcement, Obama said thornier matters would be discussed.
Lawmakers voted to adopt “the proposal to review and ratify the Paris Agreement” at the closing meeting of the bimonthly session of the National People’s Congress Standing Committee, Xinhua news agency reported. The U.S. has pledged to cut its emissions by at least 26 percent over the next 15 years, compared to 2005 levels.
According to the Telegraph, G20 countries account for some 80 percent of global carbon emissions, so it seems certain that environmental debate will be an important feature of the agenda at the summit. In the US, no Senate ratification is required because it is not considered a formal treaty.
The 11th G20 summit, attended by the leaders of the world’s 20 most industrialized countries, will be held in Hangzhou in Zhejiang province September 4-5.
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To prevent the worst impacts of climate change from happening, it is essential for the Paris Agreement to enter into force as quickly as possible.
