Increasingly Unlikely That Xi Will Attend COP 26; Too Busy Dealing W. Coal Shortage At Home
United Nations talks aimed at forging fresh commitments on the road to a new green economy are looking like they’ll be overshadowed by a series of old-economy energy crises.
A snag emerged on Friday when the leader of the largest greenhouse gas emitter, China’s Xi Jinping, served notice he is unlikely to attend the summit in person. This as China grapples with rolling blackouts and a coal shortage that have forced factories to close and citizens to worry about the lights staying on.
British organizers of the COP26 summit in Glasgow, Scotland, set to start in two weeks, were said to be concerned that the snub could mean China may refuse to set new climate targets, according to the Times of London, which first reported the development on Friday. It said Prime Minister Boris Johnson had been informed that Mr. Xi backed out. Plans could change, but if they don’t it could be seen as a blow to hopes for a concerted effort on the climate front.
Already, it was looking like the meeting, aimed at pushing closer to a decarbonized economy, was taking on an undercurrent of energy supply worry. Countries in Europe and Asia are struggling to cope with fossil fuel shortages and price spikes that threaten the global recovery. North American consumers are staring at a costly winter as gas demand and prices jump.
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https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/commentary/article-xi-jinpings-snub-of-cop26-conference-raises-concerns-china-may-refuse/
