"China’s updated targets for cutting emissions to fight climate change reiterate what its leader pledged nearly a year ago. That doesn’t bode well for progress at next week’s global climate summit."
"China formalized the pledges its leader announced last year, but the country went no further, in an official update of its targets to fight climate change, which were submitted on Thursday with the United Nations climate change agency.
It foreshadows a grim start to the international climate talks in Glasgow next week, considering that China’s emissions account for the largest share in the world right now. It reflects the political and economic challenges within China in pivoting away from fossil fuels. China burns more coal than every other country combined in order to power its factories and produce the massive amounts of steel and cement used in its construction projects.
And so what China does, from now to 2030, is crucial to global efforts to slow down catastrophic climate change."
Somini Sengupta reports for the New York Times October 28, 2021.
SEE ALSO:
"China Submits Updated Climate Pledges to UN Ahead of Glasgow Talks" (Reuters)
"China Offers No Notable New Environmental Goals Ahead Of UN Climate Summit" (The Hill)
"China Hurries to Burn More Coal, Putting Climate Goals at Risk" (New York Times)
