US and China reach “understandings” on climate ahead of COP28, says Kerry

The United States and China have reached “understandings and agreements” on climate issues that will help ensure progress at the COP28 talks starting later this month in Dubai, US climate envoy John Kerry said on Friday.

Kerry met with his Chinese counterpart Xie Zhenhua this week in Sunnylands, California. He described the four days of talks as tough and intense.

“Like any negotiation, we’ve had some moments where you think it’s all desperate,” Kerry said at the Bloomberg New Economy Forum in Singapore. ,” he said.

Common ground between the world’s two largest economies and biggest greenhouse gas emitters is seen as a key part of any consensus at COP28, which is expected to focus on issues such as climate finance and more ambitious energy transition targets.

Details of the agreements between the two will be released soon, Kerry said.

A major agreement on climate loss and damage would allow any country to contribute funds to support areas most vulnerable to climate impacts, Kerry said.

Much of the focus on China at COP28 will be its ongoing plans to build coal-fired power plants and Beijing’s reluctance to meet a firm goal to reduce fossil fuel use while trying to ensure energy security.