What’s in the news?

• The United States and China, the world’s two biggest carbon polluters, have agreed to cooperate with other countries to curb climate change.
• The agreement was reached by U.S. special envoy for climate John Kerry and his Chinese counterpart Xie Zhenhua recently.

Significance

• China and the United States are the world’s top carbon polluters, pumping out nearly half of the fossil fuel fumes that are warming the planet’s atmosphere.
• Their cooperation is key to a success of global efforts to curb climate change, but frayed ties over human rights, trade and China’s territorial claims to Taiwan and the South China Sea have been threatening to undermine such efforts.

Climate summit

• U.S. President Joe Biden is set to host a virtual summit of world leaders to discuss issues related to climate change. 
• Mr. Biden has invited 40 world leaders, including Chinese President Xi Jinping, to the April 22-23 summit. The U.S. and other countries are expected to announce more ambitious national targets for cutting carbon emissions ahead of or at the meeting, along with pledging financial help for climate efforts by less wealthy nations.

Reference:

1. https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/us-china-agree-to-cooperate-on-climate-crisis-with-urgency/article34348718.ece