China and US spar over climate on Twitter

17/8/2022 19:47

        The world's two biggest emitters of greenhouse gases are sparring on Twitter over climate policy, with China questioning whether the U.S. can deliver on the landmark climate legislation signed into law by President Joe Biden this week.
        
        "You can bet America will meet our commitments," U.S. Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns tweeted in response on Wednesday, using a national flag emoticon for “America." He called on China to resume suspended climate talks, writing: "We're ready."
        
        The punchy exchange, part of a longer back and forth on Twitter, is emblematic of a broader worry: U.S.-China cooperation is widely considered vital to the success of global efforts to curb rising temperatures. With the breakdown in relations over Taiwan and other issues, some question whether the two sides can cooperate.
        
        After Congress passed the climate bill last Friday, Burns took to Twitter over the weekend to say the U.S. was acting on climate change with its largest investment ever — and that China should follow.