United States climate envoy John Kerry has arrived in China to restart stalled talks between the world’s two biggest emitters of planet-warming gasses.
Kerry’s trip to China, where he will meet with his counterpart Xie Zhenhua, follows weeks of record-setting summer heat that scientists say is being exacerbated by climate change.
Bilateral climate talks stalled last year after Nancy Pelosi, then speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives visited self-ruled Taiwan and infuriated Beijing, which considers the island its territory.
His trip to Beijing is his third as President Joe Biden’s climate emissary and also comes after two other high-profile visits by US officials first Secretary of State Antony Blinken, then Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen aimed at stabilizing United States, China ties.
Kerry will aim to use his time in Beijing to engage with Chinese officials with respect to increasing implementation and ambition and promoting a successful COP28