US And China Sign Environmental Pact.
In a surprise to many observers, the two largest super powers signed an agreement aimed at reducing climate change albeit an agreement short on specifics, a start nonetheless. (NY Times)
“The pact between the world’s two biggest polluters came as a surprise to the thousands of attendees gathered here for a United Nations climate summit. China and the United States, rivals that face growing tensions over trade, human rights and other issues, spoke as allies in the fight to keep global warming to relatively safe levels.
“We both see the challenge of climate change is existential and a severe one,” said Xie Zhenhua, China’s climate change envoy. “As two major powers in the world, China and the United States, we need to take our due responsibility and work together and work with others in the spirit of cooperation to address climate change.””
American Sino relations are at low point with little common ground and much suspicion and hostility. Out of that fraught relationship came an environmental agreement that has surprised many experts in the field of climate change. Short on details for sure, but a pact that could pave the way for the two largest superpowers to find ways to work together in a shared interest of preventing catastrophic climate disasters. Living up to the agreement and building upon it will be the next challenge.
