Xi tipped to miss Glasgow

LONDON: Boris Johnson has been told China’s President, Xi Jinping, will not attend next month’s climate change conference in Glasgow amid international pessimism the event will be successful.

In a setback to the ambitions of the gathering, the UK Prime Minister has been advised by diplomats that Mr Xi is not expected to join more than 100 world leaders, including US President Joe Biden.

Organisers fear the decision could be a prelude to China refusing to set new goals amid an energy crunch.

If China fails to publish its nationally defined contributions (NDC), or sets one that fails to further reduce reliance on fossil fuels, it could scupper attempts for an agreement showing the world is on track to maintain the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5C. China is responsible for 27 per cent of global carbon emissions.

US climate envoy John Kerry said on Thursday Glasgow would probably fall short of the target for cuts in coal and petroleum emissions needed to hold destructive levels of global warming at bay.

“By the time Glasgow’s over, we’re going to know who is doing their fair share and who isn’t,” Mr Kerry said.

A UK government source said that there was increasing pessimism in the Cop unit, which is organising the event, about how far China was prepared to move.