Advertisement
US and Russia say they will cooperate on climate, despite strained relations
- US climate envoy John Kerry in Moscow for three-day visit
- Tensions continue to complicate the two countries’ relations
2-MIN READ2-MIN
The United States and Russia said on Monday they would cooperate on climate change despite strained relations, during a visit to Moscow by US climate envoy John Kerry.
Kerry, the former secretary of state who has become US President Joe Biden’s globe-trotting climate envoy, said “the stakes could not be higher” as he met with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
“We spent years, you and I, negotiating on wars, on chemical weapons, on nuclear weapons, I would say without any reservation this is absolutely as critical, as urgent an initiative,” Kerry said.
Advertisement
Lavrov said Russia expects “close cooperation” with the US at a COP26 conference in November in Glasgow, adding that Moscow “highly values the importance of the problems on climate change” and that Kerry’s three-day visit to be “very timely”.
Russia’s top diplomat also said that Kerry’s visit was a “very important and positive” step “to alleviate tensions” between the two countries.
Advertisement
Russia, one of the world’s major producers of oil and gas, has in recent years made commitments and statements suggesting it is taking climate change seriously.
Advertisement
Select Voice
Select Speed
1.00x