THE UNITED States and China, the world’s largest emitters of greenhouse gases, have signed an agreement that promises greater co-operation in tackling climate change, energy and the environment.
Chinese and US officials signed the “memorandum of understanding” yesterday following two days of high-level talks in Washington to discuss economic and other strategic issues, including climate change.
No immediate details of the document were released but US secretary of state Hillary Clinton said it highlighted the importance of climate change in relations between the two nations.
“It also provides our countries with direction as we work together to support international climate negotiations and accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy,” Mrs Clinton said at the signing ceremony.
She said both sides had extensive discussions over how to reduce emissions and move forward in advance of the UN climate conference in Copenhagen in December that aims to craft new global goals on controlling climate change.
Some in the US argue Washington should not commit itself to specific reductions in industrial emissions, which could boost energy prices, until China does so as well.
But others argue that China has already taken more concrete steps than the US and that Washington must show, in the run-up to the Copenhagen meeting, that it is sufficiently serious about reducing US emissions.
Chinese state counsellor Dai Bingguo said both countries faced severe challenges posed by climate change and Beijing was committed to co-operating with Washington on the issue.
“I think our two countries have an important contribution to make to the global efforts to tackle climate change, to ensure energy security and to protect the environment and the only planet we have,” he said.
US energy secretary Steven Chu praised China’s efforts but said both nations needed to do more.
“Today’s agreement should send a clear signal that the United States and China are ready to work together on clean energy and climate change. It sets the stage for what I hope will be many years of co-operation,” he said of the agreement. – (Reuters)