The US is in a more credible position heading into next month's UN climate talks thanks to the recent enactment of major climate legislation, US climate envoy John Kerry said today.
The passage of the Inflation Reduction Act has "absolutely" strengthened the US position at the Cop 27 talks in Sharm el-Sheik, Egypt, Kerry said, calling it the "biggest climate and clean energy investment" in US history.
"I can't underscore enough how significant it is," he said during a Council on Foreign Relations event in Washington, DC.
Kerry said that prior to the bill's passage he had been hearing some questioning on the US commitment to tackling climate change. But since its enactment, the US has been able to persuade other countries to step up their efforts, pointing to the $94bn in funding commitments for clean energy demonstration projects announced last month at a US-hosted forum in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. That exceeded the administration's goal by $4bn.
"That happened because they felt we were indeed committed," Kerry said.
The legislation included $369bn in funding for climate and clean energy policies, including the extension and expansion of tax incentives for renewable energy, carbon capture, biofuels and other efforts, as well as funds for nuclear power, clean energy manufacturers and electric vehicles.
US president Joe Biden has set a goal for the US to cut greenhouse gas emissions by at least 50pc below 2005 levels by 2030. Outside analyses have found the measure would put the US on track for a 40pc reduction.
Kerry also pointed to the recent Senate vote to ratify the Kigali amendment to the Montreal Protocol as another sign that the US is acting with the purpose that is required. That amendment calls for a more than 80pc reduction in the global use of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) by 2050. HFCs are potent GHGs often used in refrigeration and air conditioning.
Kerry also said he still hopes that China, the world's leading emitter, will play a significant role at the Cop by raising its own ambition.
The country is "not acting quickly enough on CO2 or on covering all greenhouse gases in its goals," he said, while it continues to build new power plants domestically.
China has committed to issuing an ambitious plan by the Cop for cutting its methane emissions, Kerry said, but its intentions at this point are not clear as the country halted climate talks with the US after US House speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan in August, and there are no signs yet that it wants to resume.
While the two countries have sent each other a few "messages about climate change," there has been no new movement and bilateral talks on climate are not resuming, Kerry said.
Ultimately the decision to restart the talks "will come from one person," Chinese president Xi Jinping.
"Until then we are in limbo," Kerry said.
Egyptian officials today said they do not know yet if Xi will be among the world leaders attending the talks. So far about 90 heads of state or government have said they will be in Sharm el-Sheik for the opening days of Cop 27.
