The first formal deadline to ramp up those pledges is 2020. Whether the United Nations can persuade big polluting countries, like China and those within the European Union, to hasten their own reduction of greenhouse gas emissions is an important test for the world body. Mr. de Alba said he is “hopeful” that China would announce new climate pledges at the September summit. At least 80 countries, he said, have signaled to the United Nations that they want to do so. Among the invitees to the climate summit is the Swedish youth activist, Greta Thunberg.

Source: New York Times May 28, 2019 20:36 UTC