Chinese state media made no mention of the country's huge carbon emissions or pledge to reach net-neutral a decade later than most of the world as the UN released its 'code red' climate report on Monday. Also conspicuously absent from most Chinese reporting was mention of the 2050 net neutral emissions target that a vast majority of countries are committed to - perhaps to avoid comparison with Beijing's target to be net neutral by 2060. The only direct reference to China's emissions was a quote from Swiss scientist Gian-Kasper Plattner who praised the country's 'huge steps forward' in recent years. The People's Daily similarly did not make reference to the 2050 target, China's current emissions, or suggest the country should be taking action to cut them. China's carbon emissions are vast and growing, and experts say the world cannot win the fight against climate change unless Beijing makes massive reductions.

Source: The Nation August 10, 2021 13:07 UTC