ASEAN unlikely to be attracted by Quad expansion
The foreign ministers of Australia, India, Japan and the US met in Melbourne, Australia Friday, for the fourth Quad Foreign Ministers' Meeting. In a joint statement released after the meeting, support for the Outlook on the Indo-Pacific by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was highlighted. This led to media discussions about Quad expansion, especially how the Quad could work with other multilateral organizations such as ASEAN to counterbalance China's influence. The Quad has two tasks in terms of strengthening mechanism. One is upgrading the mechanism and the other is expansion. Given that the Quad now has annual ministerial meetings and summits, its most important task is expansion, both in fields of cooperation and of membership. The expansion of membership is more crucial, as the Quad has already changed from a security mechanism into a comprehensive framework involving cooperation on anti-pandemic efforts, high-tech, climate change, security and the economy. Scholars at home and abroad home believe that Quad+ includes at least two formats, one of which is directly absorbing certain countries as fixed members. But it seems to be difficult, since everyone now basically agrees that the Quad aims at building a regional security network with allied partners in order to contain China. Most countries and regions do not want to choose sides between China and the US and are therefore apprehensive about joining the Quad directly.
India targets net-zero carbon emissions by 2070, says Modi
India’s economy will become carbon neutral by the year 2070, the country’s prime minster has announced at the COP26 climate crisis summit in Glasgow. The target date is two decades beyond what scientists say is needed to avert catastrophic climate impacts. India is the last of the world’s major carbon polluters to announce a net-zero target, with China saying it would reach that goal in 2060, and the United States and the European Union aiming for 2050.
COP26: What climate summit means for one woman in Bangladesh
China's carbon emissions are vast and growing, dwarfing those of other countries. Experts agree that without big reductions in China's emissions, the world cannot win the fight against climate change. In 2020, China's President Xi Jinping said his country would aim for its emissions to reach their highest point before 2030 and for carbon neutrality before 2060. His statement has now been confirmed as China's official position ahead of the COP26 global climate summit in Glasgow. But China has not said exactly how these goals will be achieved.
Why China's climate policy matters to us all
China's carbon emissions are vast and growing, dwarfing those of other countries. Experts agree that without big reductions in China's emissions, the world cannot win the fight against climate change. In 2020, China's President Xi Jinping said his country would aim for its emissions to reach their highest point before 2030 and for carbon neutrality before 2060. His statement has now been confirmed as China's official position ahead of the COP26 global climate summit in Glasgow. But China has not said exactly how these goals will be achieved.
Deliver on promises, developing world tells rich at climate talks
A crucial U.N. conference heard calls on its first day for the world's major economies to keep their promises of financial help to address the climate crisis, while big polluters India and Brazil made new commitments to cut emissions. World leaders, environmental experts and activists all pleaded for decisive action to halt the global warming which threatens the future of the planet at the start of the two-week COP26 summit in the Scottish city of Glasgow on Monday. The task facing negotiators was made even more daunting by the failure of the Group of 20 major industrial nations to agree ambitious new commitments at the weekend.