France and China Declare Joint Climate Commitment at G20

The major economies promised to work together to set robust rules for the Paris Agreement sending a political boost ahead of crucial UN talks next week.

China and France expressed their “highest political commitment” to implementing the Paris Agreement, on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Argentina on Friday.

In a statement together with UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres, foreign ministers of the two countries promised to work together to put the international climate pact into action.

It struck a markedly greener tone than the ambivalent draft G20 declaration circulated ahead of the meeting.  Climate Home News understands that text is still open for negotiation as talks between the 20 major economies enter their final day.

Ministers Jean-Yves Le Drian and Wang Yi said they hoped the G20 summit would “give a political impetus to the success of Cop24”, the UN climate negotiations starting in Katowice, Poland on Sunday.

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