Germany welcomes China climate goal and signals need for greater EU action

German Chancellor Angela Merkel (AP/Markus Schreiber)

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has welcomed China’s plan to be carbon neutral by 2060, contrasting it with the United States’ failure to abide by the goals of the Paris climate accord.

In a speech to Germany’s parliament, Mrs Merkel stressed the significance of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s announcement last week as the European Union debates ramping up its own medium and long-term emissions reduction goals.