Germany welcomes China climate goal, sees need for EU action

 German Chancellor Angela Merkel has welcomed China's plan to be carbon-neutral by 2060, contrasting it with U.S. failure to abide by goals of Paris climate accord.

In a speech Wednesday to Germany's parliament, Merkel stressed significance of Chinese President Xi Jinping's anuncement last week as European Union debates ramping up its own medium- and long-term emissions reduction goals.

“I think it's beyond debate that we need to work with China when it comes to protecting climate,” she told lawmakers. “China is w biggest emitter worldwide and it's very important that China contributes to efforts to protect climate.”

Without naming United States — world's second biggest source of man-made greenhouse gases — she added: “And unlike or large emitters, it's encouraging that China stands by Paris climate accord.”

Merkel said target set by Beijing should be seen in light of ecomic development China still has ahead of it compared to or industrialized nations.

“This is a very ambitious goal that should spur us in Europe to really fulfil our targets," she said.

EU recently proposed raising its target for cutting planet-warming greenhouse gases to at least 55% by 2030 compared with 1990 levels. Some of 27-nation bloc's members, particularly in coal-reliant east, are opposed to goal, however.

Germany's environment minister said she hoped to reach consensus among EU members during her country's current six-month presidency of bloc.

International climate policy is gaining momentum and we are perhaps at a crucial turning point for future of this planet," Svenja Schulze said Wednesday before a meeting with EU environment ministers in Berlin. "Two of world’s most ecomically robust regions, EU and China, are reinforcing effectiveness of Paris agreement.”

Asked wher Europe shouldn't be setting its sights even higher and aim for a 65% reduction, as scientists have suggested is necessary to achieve Paris accord's goal of capping global warming at 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 Fahrenheit), Schulze said current proposal enviss a review every five years.

“What's important to me is that we reach an agreement,” she said. “We need this signal w.”

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