China and the U.S. set out plans for further climate change collaboration as envoys from both sides wrapped up a meeting held in Washington, D.C.
Commitments were made at the meeting to deploy emission reduction technologies, establish or enhance monitoring, reporting, and verification systems and standards, and promote bilateral cooperation and capacity building, according to the release. Technical cooperation and capacity building regarding non-CO2 greenhouse gases, including industrial nitrous oxide and precursor substances for tropospheric ozone, were also discussed.
The two-day climate change meeting was co-chaired by China's special envoy for climate change, Liu Zhenmin, and John Podesta, U.S. special presidential envoy for climate, and was concluded on Thursday.
Reflecting on the outcomes of the summit between the Chinese and U.S. presidents in San Francisco last year, discussions at the conference delved into various areas outlined in the "Sunshine Declaration on Strengthening Cooperation to Address the Climate Crisis." These included energy transition, methane and other non-CO2 greenhouse gases, circular economy and resource efficiency, deforestation, and initiatives in low-carbon provinces/states and cities.
A man and a woman use a cloth to protect them from the sun in Manila, the Philippines, April 29, 2024. /CFP
Additionally, collaboration on multilateral issues pertinent to the success of the 2024 United Nations Climate Change Conference, to be held in November in Baku, Azerbaijan, was a focal point. Both sides shared experiences and challenges in their respective climate policies and actions, aiming to effectively address the climate crisis and its ramifications.
The next high-level event on local climate action between China and the United States is scheduled for May 29 to 30 in Berkeley, California.