Kerry's effort to secure climate deal with China falls short

Even without any immediate breakthroughs, the fact that the two sides committed to regular conversations represents a substantial step in restoring trust between the two countries at a time when overall relations are at their modern nadir, veterans of international climate diplomacy said. But neither Kerry nor his Chinese counterpart, Xie Zhenhua, has the final say on climate policy in their respective countries. Chinese President Xi Jinping ultimately decides policy in Beijing, while Kerry's boss — President Joe Biden — faces limits imposed by federal courts increasingly skeptical toward executive actions and congressional Republicans who oppose the administration's climate policies….