Obama, Xi discuss Paris climate agreement

US-China communication and cooperation over climate change have demonstrated that the two countries can conduct constructive cooperation in a wide range of global affairs, Obama said.

Rich nations are required to offer help for creating nations’ emissions cuts.In 2018, two years earlier than the settlement enters into pressure, nations will take inventory of the general impression of what they’re doing to rein in worldwide warming, and revisit their carbon-curbing plans in 2020.

It is noteworthy that China’s per-capita emissions of greenhouse gases are far lower than those of developed countries, especially the United States, although rapid economic expansion and its population base have made it one of the biggest producers of the gases.

The U.S., the second-largest emitter in the world, has agreed to a 26 percent to 28 percent reduction in emissions from 2005 levels by 2025.

“As the largest developing country, China’s efforts in climate change have “spill-over” and “model” effects globally”, said Zhang Haibin, a professor with Peking University.

Obama emphasised the importance of continuing close US-China cooperation on climate change issues into the future.

However, China’s development rights need to be respected.

As Xi stressed at the Paris conference, it is necessary to accommodate the national conditions of various countries and lay emphasis on practical results when it comes to the fight against climate change, and the principle of “common but differentiated responsibilities”, instead of being obsolete, must continue to be adhered to.

“It was like an opener for the overall negotiations to go forward”, she said.

The Asian giant pledged in 2014 to peak carbon dioxide output by “around 2030” – suggesting at least another decade of growing emissions.

The Chinese delegation made extensive contacts with convening parties during the summit.

A seminar to share China’s experience of transforming the Kubuqi Desert in north China into an oasis was organized on the sidelines of the meeting, offering valuable experience to other developing countries in this endeavor.

World Bank’s vice president and special envoy for climate change Rachel Kyte also hailed the Chinese INDCs, saying it included a package of “hard” targets, such as emission peaking around 2030 and achieving non-fossil fuel share of 20 percent in the primary energy mix of by the same year.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and his USA counterpart Barack Obama said on Monday that they were ready to work with each other and other relevant parties to make sure that the historic climate accord reached in Paris will be effectively implemented.