China urged to join the Biden-initiated Climate Leaders Summit on Earth Day

Asian climate and environmental advocates on Friday urged China to participate in the US-initiated Climate Leaders Summit on April 22, Earth Day, ahead of the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Scotland.

Around 40 world leaders are expected to attend the virtual summit.

“We urge China to participate meaningfully in the Climate Leaders Summit. China’s participation in the Climate Leaders Summit will show its commitment to pave the way for a fossil fuel-free Asia and fossil fuel-free future,” Lidy Nacpil, coordinator of the Manila-based Asian Peoples’ Movement on Debt and Development (APMDD), said.

Nacpil also said that they ‘welcome the winds of change’ in the US ushered in by the Biden administration.

“We welcome the winds of change in the US ushered in by the Biden administration. The new US government’s positions and pledges on climate change and fossil fuels represent a world of difference from the Trump era,” Nacpil said.

“Climate actions by China and the US are absolutely vital to prevent climate catastrophe,” Nacpil said.

Nacpil said that “however, the Biden targets are still short of the US fair shares of climate action.”  “The US must deliver fully on its fair share as the world’s largest historical and continuing emitter of greenhouse gases.”

“Its obligations include mitigation actions as well as delivering on climate finance for countries in the Global South,” Nacpil said.

Nacpil said the US must drastically cut its carbon emissions to meet its “fair share” in the global mitigation effort needed to keep global warming below 1.5 degrees Celsius.”