EU and China key players in global efforts to cut emissions

China-EU cooperation in combating climate change has a profound history. Being formalized in 2005, the cooperation mechanism has been strengthened several times. For example, climate change figured on the agendas of the talks between the European Union and China in July and September, the last being organized by German Chancellor Angela Merkel, where the two sides agreed to hold "High-level Environment and Climate Dialogue" to pursue joint commitments in the fight against global warming.

China and the EU have already set their respective carbon neutrality targets. The Chinese leadership has reiterated at the ongoing two sessions that the country will achieve carbon neutrality before 2060. On the other hand, the EU, thanks to its Green Deal program, will realize carbon neutrality before 2050.

Both sides have also fixed their interim climate goals. While China has pledged that its emissions will peak before 2030, the EU has taken measures to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 60 percent compared to 1990 levels by 2030. Since these are ambitious goals, China and the EU should further deepen climate cooperation.