Stephen Colbert mocks U.S./China agreement to 'enhance ambition’ on tackling climate change

"This agreement is pretty short on specifics."
 By 
Shannon Connellan
 on 
Stephen Colbert
Watch Next

The globe's two biggest polluters have agreed on...something?...to apparently tackle climate change, maybe?

While world leaders attempt to come to an agreement on climate change at the COP26 summit, China and the U.S. announced a surprise and extremely vague joint agreement on Wednesday to (wait for it) "enhance ambition" on climate change. According to the New York Times, the two countries said they would cooperate to cut emissions overall this decade, with China committing to reduce methane gas emissions and "phase down" coal from 2026 without any real timeline details.

The Late Show's Stephen Colbert spoke on the agreement during his monologue on Thursday. "Maybe, could be significant because the United States and China are the world’s two biggest polluters," he said. "Of course, the number three is any Keurig machine — I take my coffee with milk, sugar, and a little cup that fits right into a dolphins blowhole!"

Colbert called out the indecisiveness of the language used, even offering up a meter clocking up diplomatic levels of crisis response.

"This agreement is pretty short on specifics. The nations just agreed to 'enhance ambition' on climate. 'Enhance ambition' is a technical diplomatic level of crisis response. It goes: enhance ambition, elevate enthusiasm, biggie size initiative, extra crispy, and too late we're already dead!"

Wish he was wrong, tbh.

Want more?

A photo portrait of a journalist with blonde hair and a band t-shirt.
Shannon Connellan
UK Editor

Shannon Connellan is Mashable's UK Editor based in London, formerly Mashable's Australia Editor, but emotionally, she lives in the Creel House. A Tomatometer-approved critic, Shannon writes about entertainment, tech, social good, science, culture, and Australian horror.


Latest Videos

Stephen Colbert reacts to the Artemis II moon mission
A man in a suit stands on a talk show stage, gesturing.


'The Daily Show' reacts to judge halting Trump's White House ballroom
Desi Lydic presents "The Daily Show" beside an image of Donald Trump.


A24's 'Mother Mary' trailer is worth it for the FKA twigs track
Anne Hathway is dressed in a red pop star outfit with religious overtones in a film still from "Mother Mary."

Jon Stewart has a brutal reaction to Trump waffling about pens
A man in a suit sitting behind a talk show desk looks angry. In the top left is an image of the president holding up a pen.

Stephen Colbert gleefully recaps the best signs at the 'No Kings' protest
A man in a suit stands on a talk show stage, smiling. The caption at the bottom reads, "I like that one."

Riz Ahmed is troublingly intense in new 'SNL UK' promo
A close-up of a man grinning in a slightly creepy way.


The biggest stories of the day delivered to your inbox.
These newsletters may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. By clicking Subscribe, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Thanks for signing up. See you at your inbox!