Countries must converge on climate actions

The COP28 ended on Dec 12 with major divisions still remaining among different countries.

As a pioneer in global climate change governance, the European Union has two priorities: to scale up renewable energy and phase out fossil fuels; and call for a phased ban on coal-fired thermal power plants that have not adopted carbon dioxide emission reduction measures, as well as stop to investment in new thermal power plants. The EU has also pledged substantial financial assistance to the proposed Loss and Damage Fund, which is aimed at helping vulnerable countries mitigate and adapt to climate change.

The United States, Japan, Australia and Canada are among the developed economies that have taken a different climate stance than the EU. In a joint statement with China in November 2023, the US supported the tripling of global renewable energy capacity by 2030 and working together to accelerate its domestic use. But with the Republicans in control of both the House of Representatives and Senate, it is difficult for the US to take more global climate actions.