By JOHN HAYWARD
Chinese dictator Xi Jinping chose to address the COP26 climate change conference in Glasgow, Scotland, by video link instead of attending in person.
Xi demanded âconcrete actionâ on climate change from the rest of the world, while China hauls record-breaking volumes of coal out of the Earth and pours it into the record-breaking number of carbon-generating coal-fired power plants it built over the past few years.
Chinaâs state-run Xinhua news agency summarized Xiâs remarks without dwelling on how sharply his rhetoric differed from Chinaâs actions:
Climate change and energy issues are todayâs prominent global challenges, which concern the common interests of the international community and the future of the Earth, Xi said.
The willingness and motivation of the international community to work together to cope with challenges continued to rise, and the key is to take concrete actions, he said.
He called on the world to adopt comprehensive and balanced policies, and balance environmental protection and economic development, as well as addressing climate change and safeguarding peopleâs livelihood. Major economies should strengthen cooperation in this area, he added…