US and 117 nations pledge to boost renewable energy at COP28, India and China abstain

A pledge to triple installed renewable energy capacity by 2030 got the nod from 118 nations, including the US, at the COP28 climate summit in Dubai on December 2, though India and China were significant absentees from the list. However, the final COP 28 agreement is scheduled to be announced by December 12. The US also announced a multi-year pledge of $3 billion for the Green Climate Fund (GCF) during the summit on Saturday, December 2.

“US importing more from key partners like India…less dependent on China”: Janet Yellen

Stating that the US is committed to an Indo-Pacific that is free and open, Secretary of Treasury Janet Yellen said that Washington is increasing its trade with countries like India, Vietnam and Mexico reducing its dependence on China. Yellen said that she along with President Biden will head Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders’ Week later this month in California.

US climate envoy John Kerry on 5-day India visit from Tuesday

After his China trip, the United States Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, John Kerry is scheduled to undertake a five-day visit to India on Tuesday to discuss climate and clean energy. During his visit from July 25 to 29, Kerry will visit Delhi and Chennai. In Delhi, Secretary Kerry will meet with senior government officials. Kerry’s visit is to advance shared objectives on climate and clean energy, including mutual efforts to build a platform for investments in renewable energy and storage solutions, support the deployment of zero-emission buses, and diversify clean energy supply chains, the US State Department said in a statement.