Shared responsibility at a pivotal moment
Globally acclaimed climate scientist Chen Deliang, foreign member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and chair professor of Earth Sciences at Tsinghua University, recently told CGTN that the Chinese mainland and the U.S. must join forces to tackle the escalating climate crisis. He stressed that as the world’s two largest emitters, these powers hold a shared responsibility to drive deep emissions cuts, strengthen adaptation efforts, and galvanize international cooperation.
A track record of sustained progress
Chen highlighted the Chinese mainland’s long-term climate strategy, from expanding renewable energy capacity to large-scale ecological conservation projects. He noted that consistent policy support and investment have laid a solid foundation for further action. At the same time, the U.S. has advanced clean energy initiatives and regulatory measures that signal a commitment to a low-carbon future.
Three pillars for renewed collaboration
- Deep emissions cuts: Accelerating the phase-out of fossil fuels and scaling up renewable technologies.
- Stronger adaptation: Investing in resilient infrastructure and community-level solutions to cope with extreme weather.
- Global cooperation: Leading international finance, technology transfer, and knowledge-sharing to support vulnerable nations.
Looking ahead to COP30
Chen’s call comes ahead of COP30 later this year, where negotiators will seek to bridge the gap between ambition and implementation. Experts say that renewed collaboration between the Chinese mainland and the U.S. could tip the scales toward more ambitious climate commitments and a more resilient global framework.
Reference(s):
Expert: China, the U.S. must lead jointly on global climate action
cgtn.com
