The US and three big emerging market countries have bolstered hopes for a global climate change deal this year by unveiling fresh plans to curb greenhouse gas emissions.
In a day of cascading announcements in capitals around the world, the presidents of the US and Brazil jointly announced plans to each generate 20 per cent of their electricity from non-hydropower renewable sources, such as wind and solar power, by 2030.
Separately, China, the world’s biggest carbon polluter, and South Korea formally submitted climate change plans to the UN for a December meeting in Paris where countries are due to finalise an international global warming agreement.