China’s shock climate deal with the U.S. has sparked some cautious optimism

China’s shock climate deal with the U.S. has sparked some cautious optimism

LONDON — A joint declaration between the United States and China, in which the two superpowers said they would work together on a number of climate-related actions, has taken many by surprise. Announced Wednesday during the COP26 climate change summit in Glasgow, Scotland, the declaration covers a number of issues, from cutting carbon dioxide and methane emissions to tackling illegal deforestation. "The two sides are intent on seizing this critical moment to engage in expanded individual and combined efforts to accelerate the transition to a global net zero economy," the declaration said. It also expressed an intention to establish a working group which will "meet regularly to address the climate crisis and advance the multilateral process, focusing on enhancing concrete actions in this decade." The U.S. and China's plan to work with one another has been broadly welcomed by a range of stakeholders. "The unexpected and welcome joint declaration between the United States and China represents an important commitment between the world's two largest emitters of greenhouse gases," Genevieve Maricle, director of U.S. climate policy action at the World Wildlife Fund, said in a statement. "No less relevant in the context of this agreement, they are also the two largest