China and the US have launched a "working group on enhancing climate action in the 2020s," as the two countries advance their November agreement to collaborate on climate change mitigation.
The countries in a video conference on Friday restarted bilateral talks on climate-related issues.
The meeting was chaired by climate envoys from China and the US, Xie Zhenhua and John Kerry, respectively. Issues discussed included the energy transition, methane, circular economies, and low-carbon states and cities.
The meeting was attended by key Chinese government officials from the National Development and Reform Commission, which is China's main planning body, as well as the National Energy Administration, and the Ecology and Environment ministry (MEE). Among those who attended from the US were senior officials from the Department of Energy, MEE said.
The meeting follows the November Sunnylands statement, in which the countries agreed to resume cooperation on climate change. Talks between the world's two largest carbon emitters are widely seen as crucial to combat global warming, as China is also not part of the Global Methane Pledge (GMP) group of countries, which aims to reduce methane emissions by 30pc by 2030.
MEE also confirmed Xie will step down due to health issues and will be replaced by former vice minister of foreign affairs Liu Zhenmin. The 74-year-old Xie was previously expected to retire.
