BAKU, Azerbaijan — China must step up and help lead the fight against climate change, starting with a strong new climate target, the United Nations’ top climate official said Friday.
Simon Stiell, executive secretary of U.N. Climate Change, touted China’s investments in clean energy technology as a demonstration of “leading by example.” He then implored the world’s largest emitter to release a strong new plan to cut its planet-warming pollution — known as a nationally determined contribution, or NDC.
“A strong NDC would send an important signal to other countries that stronger targets drive investment, that courageous leadership pays off, that development and sustainability are not at odds — that they are compatible,” said Stiell, speaking on the sidelines of the global climate talks in Baku.
His comments, delivered at an event on China’s support for developing nations, come as global climate talks proceed in the shadow of a government transition in the United States, the world’s largest economy and second-biggest emitter.
