VOA新闻杂志2023--US, China Promise to Work Together on Climate Goals

US, China Promise to Work Together on Climate Goals

United States climate diplomat¹ John Kerry and Chinese climate negotiator Xie Zhenhua recently agreed to restart a suspended climate working group.

The agreement came at meetings from November 4th to the 7th held in Sunnylands, California, a joint² statement released Wednesday said. The statement comes ahead of the COP28 meeting, the United Nations gathering³ on climate change, in Dubai starting on November 30.

The officials said their countries would aim for new targets for renewable energy and limits on methane⁴ gas and plastic pollution. They said some differences remain, like how to stop using nonrenewable energy.

"The Sunnylands statement is a timely effort of aligning⁶ the United States and China ahead of COP28," said Li Shuo. He is incoming director of the China Climate Hub at the Asia Society in Washington, D.C.

China and the U.S. are the world's two biggest producers of pollution from gases that some scientists say are warming the atmosphere. Li described the relationship between the two countries as "a precondition for meaningful global progress." He said the Sunnylands agreement will help "stabilize⁷ the politics" ahead of the yearly United Nations climate talks in Dubai.

The officials said the working group will deal with areas in which the two countries can work together. They include reducing methane, increasing efficiency and the economic system in which materials are reused, called the "circular economy." Additionally, the group will exchange information on policies and technologies to reduce pollution. It will also aim to reduce forest loss and plastic pollution.

‘Unrealistic'

China continues to approve new power plants that burn coal to guarantee its energy security.

The United States and China said they support a declaration by the G20, a group of the world's largest economies, to triple global renewable energy production ability by 2030. They also agreed to speed up the use of energy resources other than coal, oil and gas.

The joint statement said they expect "meaningful" reductions in pollution from the power industry before 2031. But China described the idea of ending nonrenewable energy as "unrealistic."

The statement listed additional points of agreement. Both sides said they agreed to include methane in their 2035 climate goals. It is the first time China has made such a promise. They also promised to start "at least five" large projects in which they will work together to capture, use and store carbon by the end of 2030.

Li said COP28, the yearly UN climate meeting, still "has its work cut out," especially with nonrenewable energy.

"China also needs to consider what further ambition can be brought to COP," he added. "Stopping the approval of new coal power projects is a good next step."

Words in This Story

renewables - adj. restored or replaced by natural processes: able to be replaced by nature

align⁵ - v. to join a group that is supporting or opposing something

global - adj. involving the entire world

stabilize - adj. in a good state or condition that is not easily changed or likely to change

efficiency - n. the ability to do something or produce something without wasting materials, time, or energy

triple - v. to cause (something) to become three times as great or as many

 

ambition - n. the strong desire to reach a goal or aim

1 diplomat   

n.外交官，外交家；能交际的人，圆滑的人

参考例句：

• The diplomat threw in a joke, and the tension was instantly relieved.那位外交官插进一个笑话，紧张的气氛顿时缓和下来。
• He served as a diplomat in Russia before the war.战前他在俄罗斯当外交官。

2 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。

3 gathering   

n.集会，聚会，聚集

参考例句：

• He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
• He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。

4 methane   

n.甲烷，沼气

参考例句：

• The blast was caused by pockets of methane gas that ignited.爆炸是由数袋甲烷气体着火引起的。
• Methane may have extraterrestrial significance.甲烷具有星际意义。

5 align   

vt.使成一线，结盟，调节；vi.成一线，结盟

参考例句：

• Align the ruler and the middle of the paper.使尺子与纸张的中部成一条直线。
• There are signs that the prime minister is aligning himself with the liberals.有迹象表明首相正在与自由党人结盟。

6 aligning   

n. (直线)对准 动词align的现在分词形式

参考例句：

• There are signs that the prime minister is aligning himself with the liberals. 有迹象表明首相正在与自由党人结盟。
• ToolTips provide textual hints that assist in drawing lines and aligning objects. 工具提示提供了协助画线和对象对齐的文本提示。 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓

7 stabilize   

vt.（使）稳定，使稳固，使稳定平衡；vi.稳定

参考例句：

• They are eager to stabilize currencies.他们急于稳定货币。
• His blood pressure tended to stabilize.他的血压趋向稳定。