The United States and China on Wednesday pledged to work together to slow greenhouse gas emissions in the 2020s. U.S. climate envoy John Kerry made the surprise announcement at the COP26 United Nations climate summit in Glasgow, Scotland.

John Kerry: “The United States and China have no shortage of differences, but on climate — on climate, cooperation is the only way to get this job done.”

Climate justice groups cautiously welcomed the commitment but said far more action is needed to avert the most catastrophic effects of global heating. Meanwhile, six major automakers and 30 governments agreed Wednesday to phase out gasoline- and diesel-powered cars and trucks by 2040. But Toyota, Volkswagen, Nissan-Renault and Hyundai-Kia refused to sign the pledge, as did the U.S., China and Japan.