How China’s Deal With the U.S. Helped Avert COP26’s Collapse
- The world’s biggest emitters overrode the concerns of others
- Summit chief Alok Sharma says 1.5 degree goal alive, only just
John Kerry speaks with Xie Zhenhua in Glasgow, on Nov. 13.
Photographer: Ian Forsyth/Getty Images
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It was Day 13 of the COP26 summit, and even the trees inside the Glasgow venue were beginning to wilt.
With the meeting running almost 24 hours over its scheduled time and the final outcome hanging in the balance, U.S. climate envoy John Kerry and his Chinese counterpart, Xie Zhenhua, huddled together deep in conversation. At one point Kerry grasped Xie’s shoulder, while China’s lead negotiator nodded and smiled as he enumerated points on his fingers.