"China is defying pressure to set ambitious climate targets early and to help poor nations cope with the ravages of a warming world."

"With less than a month before the annual U.N. Climate Change Conference, China is so far defying pressure to set ambitious climate targets early and to do more to help poor nations cope with the ravages of a warming world.

The United States, other Western countries and some low-lying island nations have been pressing China to take on more responsibility in advancing global climate goals ahead of the conference, according to some veteran climate negotiators and leading Chinese experts. They say they want Beijing to spell out soon how it will slash its planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions over the next decade. They also say they want China to contribute more cash to help poor countries address the catastrophic impacts of climate change, including rising seas and stronger storms.

But China, despite being the world’s leading producer and installer of renewable energy, remains resistant to outside pressure on climate action, according to the negotiators and experts."

Christian Shepherd and Maxine Joselow report for the Washington Post October 31, 2024. [2]