Xi Jinping, President of China, Unlikely to Attend the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties

[Photo by AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Byung-hee] Chinese President Xi Jinping will not attend the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) to be held next month in Glasgow, UK, The Times reported on the 14th (local time).

The Times cited a UK government official, reporting that Prime Minister Boris Johnson heard from diplomats that President Xi would not attend the Glasgow climate summit. The conference organizers expressed great concern that Xi's absence could be a sign that China is refusing to set climate change goals amid the energy supply crisis, The Times explained.

Countries are expected to announce their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) before the conference, but with the meeting just two weeks away, half of the Group of 20 (G20) countries, including China, have not announced their plans.

South Korea on the 8th presented its 2030 NDC, significantly raising it to a 40% reduction compared to 2018, up from the previous target of 26.3%.

The Times predicted that if China does not announce its NDC or reduce its dependence on fossil fuels, the agreement to limit the global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels could collapse.

A UK government source said, "It is clear that President Xi will not appear at the climate summit, and Prime Minister Johnson has also heard this," adding, "We do not know what position China will take." He continued, "China may attend the G20 summit in Rome with new commitments, but that seems unlikely at this time," and added, "Unless China fulfills new commitments, we will not be able to maintain the 1.5-degree limit."

China was the largest emitter in 2019, accounting for 27% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Its emissions were about 2.5 times those of the second-largest emitter, the United States (11%).

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.