Kerry, Putin stress importance of cooperation on climate issues

Washington, July 15 (IANS) US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry and Russian President Vladimir Putin highlighted the importance of cooperation on climate issues during a phone call, the State Department said.During the call on Wednesday, Kerry emphasised that the US and Russia have "important roles to play, including on reducing greenhouse gas emissions in this critical decade, aiming for net-zero emissions in the long term, eliminating emissions from coal, and working to address Arctic-related climate issues under Russia's chairmanship of the Arctic Council", the Department said in a statement. It said that Putin "concurred about the need to redouble international climate efforts and affirmed Russia's intention to address its own emissions, including in the forest sector, among other actions". Kerry and Putin also recognised recent extreme weather events and other climate impacts, as well as the urgency to act, the Department noted. They also affirmed the importance of working toward a successful COP 26 in Glasgow, UK, slated to take place between October 31 and November 12.The Kremlin press service said Putin stressed that Russia "places great importance on achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement and calls for a depoliticised and professional dialogue in the field". On Monday, Kerry arrived in Moscow for a three-day visit.
--IANS ksk/