<
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/jul/17/us-climate-envoy-kerry-meets-chinese-counterpart-amid-record-heat>
"A remote township in China’s western Xinjiang region has set a nationwide
temperature record of 52.2C, as the US climate envoy, John Kerry, held meetings
with his Chinese counterpart, Xie Zhenhua, in Beijing.
The temperature was reached on Sunday at Sanbao township in the Turpan
Depression, the China Meteorological Administration said in a statement. It
broke a previous record of 50.6C, set in July 2017, the CMA said.
Sanbao lies on the outskirts of the city of Turpan, where authorities have told
workers and students to stay at home and ordered special vehicles to spray
water on major thoroughfares. Ground surface temperatures reached 80C in parts
of Turpan on Sunday, according to the CMA.
Large swaths of Asia, Europe and the US have been sweltering in extreme
heatwaves in recent weeks, which scientists say are being exacerbated by the
climate crisis.
Methane emissions and China’s coal consumption are expected to be at the top of
Kerry’s agenda in his first formal talks with Xie in nearly a year. The pair
will probably also discuss preparations for the Cop28 climate summit later this
year.
Hot weather and drought have driven power shortages in eastern Sichuan
province, where low water levels in hydropower dams have led to power
rationing. Because Sichuan usually sends electricity to other parts of China,
the impact could spread.
Kerry said he hoped this week’s meetings would show that the world’s two
biggest emitters of greenhouse gases had renewed their focus on tackling the
climate crisis."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
