Experts agree that without big reductions in China’s emissions, the world cannot win the fight against climate change. President Xi has promised his country will aim for its emissions to reach their highest point before 2030 and for carbon neutrality to be achieved by 2060. But he has not said how.
Now, Chris Stark, the Chief Executive of the UK’s Climate Change Committee, has called on Mr Johnson to take action ahead of COP26.
He told Express.co.uk: “We absolutely should be putting more pressure on China, the US and India.
“We need to be putting the pressure on the countries and we have the platform to do that by hosting COP26.
“The important thing to say is that we would not have the leverage we have now if we weren’t hosting it.
“It’s a great moment to apply pressure and it goes with that we also have to demonstrate how to do it.
“We need to build on what we have already achieved, it’s remarkable progress, but we must also say ‘this is a G7 economy with a plan to decarbonise its economy and you should have one too’.
The UK will host the 26th UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, Scotland, later this year.
Mr Johnson has invited Mr Xi, who is yet to confirm his attendance.
It comes after China missed the UN’s extended deadline for climate pledges.
READ MORE: Afghanistan: Incredible space map tracking Taliban troops helps save Afghan interpreters
Just over half of all parties to the Paris Agreement, 110, made the deadline with an estimated 40% of them from climate vulnerable nations – a tally UN Climate Change described as “far from satisfactory”.
Mr Stark has called for the UK to take the lead.
He added: “We must send to China, and to other countries around the world.
“With our historic legacy that has called a lot of problems for climate change in the past, we need to show we are willing to put plans into place and get to net zero.
“This is not just about philanthropy and global environmentalism, it’s about modernising the economy.
“I think it’s a great moment for the UK coming up, for us to take centre stage and push the economy where we need to go.”
And the expert has tipped such a stance to play well across the pond.
He continued: “It’s hard to overstate how important it is for Biden and Boris to see eye-to-eye on it.
“COP26 is going to be a real test of the transatlantic relationship[ and it happens to be climate we will be discussing.
“I very much hope our credentials in the UK will strike a strong relation with Biden and there are a lot of signs that is happening.
“This is a moment to recast the relationship with the US.”