China’s deputy permanent representative to the UN, Geng Shuang, rebutted U.S. accusations regarding climate change during a UN Security Council debate. He urged the U.S. to “stop shifting blame” and cooperate on global climate challenges. Geng acknowledged that China is “indeed the world’s largest emitter” of CO2 currently, but emphasized that it is also “universally recognized” as the “most resolute, powerful, and effective” country in honoring its emission reduction commitments. He noted that despite its large population, China’s per capita emissions are “not among the high levels.” Geng criticized the U.S. for its “twice withdrawn” status from the Paris Agreement and for calling climate change the “greatest hoax,” labeling the U.S. the “biggest obstacle” to global climate cooperation. He concluded by calling for solidarity rather than “finger-pointing.”
China’s UN envoy criticizes US as biggest obstacle to global climate cooperation
