In the final phase of negotiations at the World Climate Conference in Glasgow, the USA and China announced that they would work together more closely in the fight against climate change. A large number of announcements emerged from the statement made by the Washington State Department on Wednesday evening. The decisive factor is that the two countries want to announce their national contributions to climate reduction by 2035 as early as 2025. In addition, common rules and standards for greenhouse gas reduction are to be developed and cooperation in the area of ​​methane control is to be established. "The US and China have no shortage of differences," said US climate protection commissioner John Kerry. “But with the climate, that's the only way to cope with this task.“In a joint declaration, the two states agreed“ on a basic framework for this cooperation ”. "We can't achieve our goals if we don't work together." 

Timo Steppat

Editor in politics.

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With the exception of the early announcement of the NDCs, the declaration mainly contains declarations of intent. The decisive signal is likely to be that the two countries are transmitting in the hot phase of the negotiations, which officially continue until Friday evening. After the British Presidency published a draft of the final document early Wednesday morning, which environmental organizations rated positively in parts, there was sharp criticism in the later debate between the states. The draft envisages, among other things, the adjustment of the next reduction targets at the next climate conference in Sharm el-Sheik, Egypt. The announcement that the agreements concluded last week on the control of methane and against the deforestation of forests would be included in the UN process also aroused criticism. 

Commitment to climate finance in developing countries 

In this respect, the declaration by China and the USA could provide a positive impetus.

The Vice President of the EU Commission, Frans Timmermans, welcomed the decision.

The two largest emitters of CO2 should now "boost" negotiations, he wrote on Twitter.

It is also important for the negotiations that both countries commit to the UN goal of providing 100 billion dollars a year for climate adaptation in developing countries.

There was great dissatisfaction among developing countries with the final draft published on Wednesday. 

They sharply criticize that the damage and losses that have already been caused by climate change are not covered by the official UN climate fund.

Even if the topic was postponed again and again at previous climate conferences, this time the representatives of the countries concerned are much more resolute.

Observers had feared that the negotiations could fail due to resistance from developing countries - if China and the USA follow up on concrete commitments, this risk should be eliminated.