China
Wirecard + Climate summit + Geely + Airport construction + Johnny Erling
Dear reader,
If we're being honest: We expected more from Xi Jinping's appearance at the small climate summit of 40 heads of state and government. However, it's not really surprising that Xi didn't announce any earth-shattering new climate goals at the invitation of US President Joe Biden. After all, the new climate goal of the US, which is awakening from climate policy hibernation after four Trump years, outshines any announcement by other countries. Christiane Kuehl has the details on Xi's announcement.
When it comes to expanding the giant country's airports, climate goals seem to be of secondary importance for the time being. Beijing sees a need to catch up, especially in smaller cities, and wants to build more than 150 new airports by 2035, as Gregor Koppenburg and Joern Petring report. The large-scale expansion of renewable energies, on the other hand, is not to be hindered by a lack of energy storage. Beijing authorities have presented new plans that will greatly advance this future market.
Olaf Scholz would have preferred to be at the climate summit yesterday instead of having to answer questions in the Wirecard Committee of Inquiry. Finn Mayer-Kuckuk was on the scene and sheds light on the minister's statements on the events surrounding a summit meeting with Chinese Vice Premier and leading economic policymaker Liu He in 2019. Then today, German Chancellor Angela Merkel is called as a witness – she is to testify on her trip to China in September 2019.
