Chinese and US negotiators talk climate at COP26

United States Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry confirmed on Friday he held talks with his Chinese counterparts on the sidelines of the ongoing 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties, or COP26, in Glasgow, Scotland, where young activists delivered key demands to negotiators on youth empowerment day.

The Chinese delegation had previously confirmed that China's special climate envoy Xie Zhenhua and Zhao Yingmin, the vice-minister of ecology and environment, had met with Kerry on Thursday.

Both sides had committed to "continued open dialogue and communication on climate change issues", according to a statement provided to China Daily.

Kerry told reporters in Glasgow that US and Chinese negotiators were approaching talks with a "sense of urgency".

"We're meeting with China here, and we've been talking for several days trying to figure out, is there common ground, as a way to try to move forward," Kerry said.

He also said he had held talks with Russian officials about measures to reduce the production of methane, which is one of the most potent greenhouse gases.

The US envoy said there was a "greater sense of focus" at this year's conference.

"I have never, in the first days of any of the COPs I've been to, counted as many initiatives, as much real money being put on the table, even as there are some question marks legitimately about some of the money," Kerry said. "But the words don't mean enough unless they are implemented. Let me emphasize as strongly as I can: job not done, job not done the day this ends."

Friday was themed youth and public empowerment day at COP26, and delegates were presented with a series of key demands from a number of youth climate groups.

These included a statement from YOUNGO, the official youth constituency of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, which held its summit, known as COY16, in Glasgow in October, and a manifesto written up in September in Milan at the Youth4Climate Summit, which was attended by 400 people aged between 15 and 29 who came from 186 countries.

Among a series of demands, youth activists called for the increased and meaningful participation of young people in climate negotiations and policy making, as well as improved climate education programs in schools.

"The leaders have been asking us to hold them accountable for years, and today, we are asking them to deliver, and summon the courage to do the right thing," YOUNGO said on Twitter on Friday.

COP26 President Alok Sharma said the voices of young people "must be heard" and reflected in negotiations at COP26.

"Wherever I have been in the world, I have been struck by the passion and the commitment of young people to climate action … The actions and scrutiny of young people are key to us keeping 1.5 alive and creating a net-zero future," Sharma said. "I am also aware of the fear and anxiety many of them feel about the future of the planet, including my own children. That is why we must act on the COY16 Global Youth Position Statement from COY16 and the manifesto from the Milan Youth4Climate Summit.

Outside the conference walls, thousands of people gathered in George Square, in central Glasgow, for a demonstration organized by youth climate group Fridays for Future.

At the rally, Ugandan climate justice activist Vanessa Nakate drew attention to the disproportionate impact of climate change on regions that produce comparatively low levels of emissions Chinese and US negotiators meet on climate at COP26.