BRUSSELS — The EU’s top climate diplomat and four of his national counterparts are planning a joint trip to Beijing next month to meet the new Chinese climate envoy, three officials told POLITICO.
Germany, France, Denmark and the Netherlands will send their top climate diplomats to join the trip, tentatively scheduled for April 8, in what is billed as an unprecedented effort by the EU to build a multinational diplomatic track to engage China on climate change.
Europe is also seeking to grab the first mover advantage with Liu Zhenmin — who succeeded Xie Zhenhua as China’s climate envoy two months ago — while John Kerry is leaving the White House as President Joe Biden’s top climate change adviser.
One official said EU climate envoy Tony Agotha will attend, while another confirmed Jennifer Morgan, the German foreign ministry’s climate special representative, will join.
