US’s John Kerry and China’s Xie Zhenhua retire, ending an era in global climate politics

In recent news, first 74-year-old Xie Zhenhua and then, John Kerry in his 80s announced his retirement, leaving the global climate stage at a crucial juncture. Their decisions open much more than just a leadership gap in crucial bilateral relationship and climate politics, as per the Guardian.

The two former US and China climate envoys have been pivotal to climate negotiations since before the signing of the landmark 2015 Paris agreement. Despite rising tensions between their countries, they forged a notable US-China collaboration on climate action.

The two massive emitters hold the planet’s future in their hands. China is responsible for approximately 30% of global carbon dioxide emissions, and the US represents a concerning 14%. But relations between the two large economies still remain a bit controversial.

“The relationship on the climate between the US and China is super-important,” said Todd Stern, former US climate envoy. It has been for a long time the most important bilateral relationship across the globe, on the climate, he added.

Successors of John Kerry and Xie Zhenhua must strengthen US and China’s climate action

Both countries have been alternately praised and criticised for their climate actions. China’s massive investments in renewable energy have made it one of the most crucial engines of global green growth. It has also been helping developing countries, offering aid and investment.

But the second biggest economy on the planet remains highly dependent on coal. Meanwhile, the US has also been playing a dual role. The country pushed for the 2015 Paris deal and even unveiled $369 billion in green investment under the Inflation Reduction Act.

But the US has simultaneously been ramping up its oil and gas production to become the biggest producer across the globe. In addition, it has also signally failed to provide the important climate finance that developing countries have long been promised.

Xie’s apparent successor is Liu Zhenmin, a top diplomat who considers climate as a vital brief. The Biden administration has yet to reveal a name. But the looming US election has now become even more important as several issues threaten to upend US action on the climate.

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