U.S. climate envoy John Kerry said political tensions with China affect the outlook for climate cooperation, as top Chinese officials pushed Washington to commit to improvements in their broader relationship. “If you have three major leaders publicly telling President Biden’s climate envoy that this is affecting outlook, it affects the outlook,” Kerry said during a media briefing Thursday in response to a question on whether U.S.-China tensions are having an impact on climate cooperation. Kerry said his virtual meetings with top Chinese officials including Yang Jiechi, a member of the ruling Communist Party’s Politburo, were “polite” and “constructive,” and that he was briefed on China’s 1+N climate plan that could raise ambitions going forward. The two sides would meet again soon in person in an effort to focus on an international summit in Scotland later this year, Kerry said, though he didn’t provide any details. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang […]